Eclipses

Total - When the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon so that the Moon is  completely shadowed, receiving no direct light from the Sun.

Partial - When the Moon’s position at the time of opposition with the Sun is such that it is only partially covered by the umbra (the shadow).

Penumbral - When the Moon only passes through the penumbra, the partial shadow area on the outside edges of the total shadow area.

Lunar eclipses are visible to the entire hemisphere of the Earth turned towards the Moon at the time. Because the Earth’s size is greater than that of the Moon, a solar eclipse passes across only a narrow section (about ninety miles wide) of the earth’s hemisphere, facing the Sun and Moon at the time.

 

Total, partial and annular.

Total and Partial solar eclipses occur when the moon is at Perigee (its closest position to the earth).
Annular eclipses occur when the Moon is at Apogee (its furthest position from the earth).

 

An Annular eclipse means that the Moon, because of this distance, is not large enough to fully cover the Sun, leaving a ring of light still visible around the edges.

 

 

Eclipses affect our ‘normal’ perceptions of reality, and provide us with opportunities to “see things differently”. When the solar light dims, our ego drive to grow into the future is temporarily blocked, giving us a chance to look back at where our past actions and attitudes have led us. When the moon’s light is dimmed, traditional restraints and habit patterns may be temporarily released, giving us an opportunity to risk trying something new. Both types of eclipse can put us in touch with our own darkness our fears, repressed emotions, our wild animal selves. It is this sudden plunge into the realms of inner night that can act as a catalyst for political crises; People faced with their own shadow tend to project their fears onto others and act with defen sive aggression. It is therefore helpful during eclipses if we can set aside some time to meditate. Dealing with our own fears and being at peace with ourselves, we can project love and harmony outwards to soothe ruffled feathers world wide.

 

Eclipses occur at the New and Full Moon, roughly every six months. A Solar eclipse (New Moon) is usually followed by a Lunar eclipse (Full Moon). The great est number of eclipses possible in one year is five solar and two lunar the least number possible is two solar.

 

ECLIPSE STATISTICS

Over 5000 years, from -1999 (2000 BC) to 3000
AD. There are between 4 and 7 eclipses in any calendar year; with an average of 4.82 eclipses per year - making a total of 24085 eclipses.
There are: 2352 years with 4 eclipses (47.0%, 1 in 2.13 years)
1370 years with 5 eclipses (27.4%, 1 in 3.65 years)
1119 years with 6 eclipses (22.4%, 1 in 4.47 years)
159 years with 7 eclipses (3.2%, 1 in 31.45 years)
7 eclipses occur in 1908, 1917, 1935, 1973, 1982, 2038, 2094.

SOLAR ECLIPSES
There are: 11897 solar eclipses altogether (2.38 per year)
3172 total solar eclipses (26.7%, 1 every 1.58 years)
568 hybrid eclipses (4.8%, 1 every 8.80 years)
3960 annular eclipses (33.3%, 1 every 1.26 years)
4197 partial eclipses (35.3%, 1 every 1.19 years)
There are: 3625 years with 2 solar eclipses (72.5%, 1 in 1.38 years)
878 years with 3 solar eclipses (17.6%, 1 in 5.69 years)
472 years with 4 solar eclipses (9.4%, 1 in 10.59 years)
25 years with 5 solar eclipses (0.5%, 1 in 200.00 years)
5 solar eclipses occur in 1255, 1805, 1935, 2206, 2709, 2774, 2839, 2904.
There is a maximum of 2 total solar eclipses in any calendar year.
There are: 1857 years with 0 total solar eclipses (37.1%, 1 in 2.69 years)
3114 years with 1 total solar eclipses (62.3%, 1 in 1.61 years)
29 years with 2 total solar eclipses (0.6%, 1 in 172.41 years)
2 total solar eclipses occur in 1014, 1209, 1358, 1535, 1554, 1712, 1889, 2057, 2252, 2429, 2606, 2801, 2996.

LUNAR ECLIPSES
There are: 12188 lunar eclipses altogether (2.44 per year)
3502 total lunar eclipses (28.7%, 1 every 1.43 years)
4207 partial eclipses (34.5%, 1 every 1.19 years)
4479 penumbral eclipses (36.7%, 1 every 1.12 years)
Of the 4479 penumbral eclipses, 191 are total penumbral eclipses (ie. penumbral magnitude >= 1.000); this is 4.3% of the penumbral eclipses, or 1.6% of all lunar eclipses; 1 every 26.18 years.
There are: 3489 years with 2 lunar eclipses (69.8%, 1 in 1.43 years)
871 years with 3 lunar eclipses (17.4%, 1 in 5.74 years)
603 years with 4 lunar eclipses (12.1%, 1 in 8.29 years)
37 years with 5 lunar eclipses (0.7%, 1 in 135.14 years)
5 lunar eclipses occur in 1181, 1246, 1311, 1676, 1694, 1749, 1879,2132, 2262, 2400, 2653, 2718, 2783, 2848, 2968.
There is a maximum of 3 total lunar eclipses in any calendar year.
There are: 2956 years with 0 total lunar eclipses (59.1%, 1 in 1.69 years)
610 years with 1 total lunar eclipses (12.2%, 1 in 8.20 years)
1410 years with 2 total lunar eclipses (28.2%, 1 in 3.55 years)
24 years with 3 total lunar eclipses (0.5%, 1 in 208.33 years)
Since year 1000, 3 total lunar eclipses occur in 1414, 1479, 1544, 1917, 1982, 2485, 2550, 2615.