Endless Facts, One Snippet at a Time
Partial Solar Eclipse: A Bite Out of the Sun
- A partial solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers only part of the Sun.
- Unlike a total eclipse, the Sun is never completely hidden.
- It looks as if the Sun has a “bite” taken out of it.
- Partial eclipses are more common than total eclipses.
- The brightness of the Sun only dims slightly, so the sky doesn’t go fully dark.
- Proper solar filters or eclipse glasses are still required to view safely.
- The Sun may appear crescent-shaped during maximum coverage.
- Ancient cultures often described partial eclipses as celestial battles or omens.
- They can be seen over a much wider area than total eclipses.
- Partial eclipses offer a preview of the rare spectacle of totality.