Craig Bobchin, of Astronomy4You, prepared this presentation for Texas Public Radio's Think Science event on April 8, 2024.

1. ECLIPSE 101

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
03
02 Types of eclipses
How to safely observe an eclipse
04 What to look for during the eclipse
01 What is an eclipse?

3. WHAT IS
AN ECLIPSE?
01

4. ECLIPSE
An eclipse occurs when an astronomical
object such as moon or planet comes
between two other astronomical objects.
There are times when the Earth is between
the Sun and the Moon and times when the
Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.
Earth
Sun
Moon

5. TYPES
OF ECLIPSE
02

6. LUNAR ECLIPSE
They last several hours and can be of
various types, although the most
frequent are partial lunar eclipses and
total lunar eclipses. When there is an
eclipse and it looks like someone has
taken a bite out of the moon, it is a
partial eclipse and when there is an
eclipse and the moon is seen in its
entirety it is a total eclipse.
The most common type of eclipse is the
Lunar Eclipse.
Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is
placed between the Moon and the Sun
and of course the Earth blocks the sun's
rays from reaching the Moon, creating a
cone of shadow that obscures the Moon.
Lunar eclipses are quite frequent and
can be seen from any part of the Earth
where it is nighttime.

7. In this type of eclipse, whole
moon turns a shade of red
In this type of eclipse, the
moon will be seen with a bite
TOTAL AND PARTIAL ECLIPSE
Partial
Total

8. TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

9. SOLAR ECLIPSE
Solar eclipses occur only when there is a new
moon and occur when the Moon is positioned
between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon
hides all or part of the Sun's light. Solar
eclipses can be of several types: total, partial
or annular.

10. PARTIAL
SOLAR ECLIPSE
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
comes between the Sun and the Earth, but
not completely, and part of the Sun is visible.
The day is darkened just a little bit and the
Sun looks like a cookie with a bite.

11. ANULAR
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Annular solar eclipses occur when the Moon
hides only the central area of the Sun. It is seen
as a black circle surrounded by an illuminated,
shiny ring.

12. ANULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE

13. TOTAL
SOLAR ECLIPSE
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon hides
all the light from the Sun and the face of the Sun
disappears behind the Moon. In the middle of the
day, night seems to come, the sky darkens and
the stars appear.

14. Earth
Sun
Moon
Lunar Eclipse Solar Eclipse Apoc-Eclipse

15. HOW TO
SAFELY
OBSERVE THE
ECLIPSE
03

16. Solar Eclipses are dangerous to observe without protective filters on your eyes,
cameras, binoculars , and telescopes. Always wear eclipse glasses when looking
at the sun during the eclipse. The only safe time to remove the glasses and filters
are during the phase of totality.
Safe Eclipse Observing

17. WHAT TO LOOK
FOR DURING
THE ECLIPSE
04

18. WHAT TO LOOK FOR DURING A TOTAL
SOLAR ECLIPSE
The Partial Phases of the eclipse happen before totality, and you can watch these without
magnification.
You can also see interesting pattern of the crescent sun using a colander to view a solar
eclipse by holding it up at an angle to the sunlight, which will project multiple images of the
crescent sun onto a surface. The holes in the colander act as pinhole projectors, creating
crescent suns. You can increase the contrast by casting the image onto a white piece of paper
or other light-colored surface. Looking at the partial phases being projected through the
leaves on trees.

19. WHAT TO LOOK FOR DURING A TOTAL
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Next are the diamond rings These occur seconds before and after totality.
After the diamond rings you will see Bailey’s Beads. Both of these phenomena are
caused by the sun shining through the rims of craters on the Moon’s edge. You will
see these right after the 2nd contact diamond ring and right before 3rd contact
diamond ring

20. WHAT TO LOOK FOR DURING A TOTAL SOLAR
ECLIPSE
There are other things to look for during the various phases of the eclipse. Especially if you
have binoculars or a telescope.
The first of these may be visible without any magnification; although it would help. These are
Sunspots. Sunspots are dark areas on the face of the sun.
The last thing to look for are usually not visible when looking at the Sun in white light. The are
the Prominences that will be visible on the edge of the sun during the Diamond ring phases as
well as during totality.

21. TOTALITY

22. WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY

23. CREDITS: This presentation template was created by Slidesgo and
includes icons by Flaticon, infographics & images by Freepik and
content by Eliana Delacour
THANKS
Any questions?
Craig@Astronomy4You.com
(210) 920-9599
www.astronomy4you.com