Every 375 years: How does a total solar eclipse occur and why is it so rare?

Solar eclipses are not uncommon for the inhabitants of our planet, but total eclipses occur extremely rarely, and this is due to several important factors.

On April 8, 2024, the total solar eclipse will pass over the United States and will be visible in many cities. This rare celestial event, in which the Moon completely obscures the Sun, will only be visible in all its glory during the path of the total eclipse, which is a narrow path passing through certain geographical points. Considering that such eclipses occur rarely (about once every 375 years), the 2024 eclipse offers a unique viewing opportunity. But the resulting processes are no less fascinating than the result itself, writes Popular Science.

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Total solar eclipses occur due to the precise alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun and the coincidence that the Moon and Sun appear approximately the same size in the Earth’s sky, despite their actual size and distance differences. As a result of this alignment, the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth, completely blocking the Sun’s light for a short time in some areas. Observers in the path of the total eclipse will experience pitch darkness for several minutes, while those outside the path will experience a partial eclipse where only part of the Sun will be obscured.

The rarity of this phenomenon in one location or another is due to the fact that the Moon’s orbit around the Earth is slightly inclined relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun; This limits the possibility of the perfect alignment required for a total solar eclipse. While the event in April 2024 offers millions of U.S. residents the opportunity to view a total eclipse without the need for long trips, it also highlights the importance of geography for astronomical observations that can only be made in certain parts of our planet.

Previously Focus He wrote about how hot the Sun really is. The Sun is a highly dynamic object, but there are some variables that, in the opinion of scientists, can be quite static, giving us the opportunity to understand our star more deeply.

Moreover Focus He wrote about how many astronauts have died in space over 50 years of spaceflight. 5 missions turned out to be fatal for space travelers.

Source: Focus

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