Solar Tracking

Solar eclipses have, over time, generated fear and wonder in countless individuals’ lives. Some peoples feared famine and death at the sight of an eclipse, while other threw parties of giant proportions at their coming. An eclipse is when the moon comes between the earth and the sun in such a way that both celestial bodies are aligned. The path of the eclipse is made up of the umbra and the penumbra. The umbra is the surface of the Earth on which the shadow of a total solar eclipse falls. A total solar eclipse results from the moon completely blocking the sun. The penumbra is the surface of the earth that only sees a part of the sun being blackened by the moon.

It might seem far-fetched when you think about how big the sun is compared to the moon! The reason they fit so closely on top of each other is due to the extreme distance between them and their distance relative to the earth. Today, we have the knowledge to know precisely where the “Path of Totality” will occur. The path of totality is the surface of the Earth that will fall under a total eclipse. Today, with worldwide travel well established, many people make it a point to be in the Path of Totality to behold the wonder of a total eclipse of the sun.

Great Pictures of Eclipses

Paths of Eclipses

The Eclipse of June 21, 2001

Home / Navigation / Eclipses / Sundials / Analemma / Helio vs. Geocentric Orbit /
Effect on Sun Position / Equnoxes / Exploration Tool