Solar Eclipse - Facts and Myths Quiz

Answer: New moon

In every type of solar eclipse, it is our neighbouring satellite that moves between us and the sun during the lunar phase known as new or dark moon. It is called dark moon because the sun shines on the side of the moon turned towards it, while the side facing the earth is unlit and therefore 'dark'.

Answer: Annular

Four types of eclipses are recognised. Annulus is the term for the bright ring around the moon when it does not obscure the entire solar disk, hence an annular eclipse. A partial eclipse is when only a part of the sun is obscured by a circular 'chip' or bite. Total eclipse is when the entire sun is hidden from us by the moon, while a hybrid is a rare cross between a total and an annular eclipse.

Answer: True

It is a fact that partial eclipses can occur twice in the same month. An historic example is the year 1150 AD when a partial eclipse was seen on March 1st and again March 30th.

Answer: Second Contact

Total eclipses are divided into four phases. During First Contact the moon's shadow moves across the sun's disk. In Second Contact, Bailey's Beads appear. The phenomenon is the result of the moon's cratered surface, allowing through uneven beads of light in the ring around the moon. During Totality the sun's disk is obscured, while in Third Contact, the lunar shadow moves across to reveal more and more of the sun until the eclipse ends.

Answer: False

Because a total eclipse was such a startling and often terrifying event, ancient history recorded a number of total eclipses from the third century BC onwards.

Answer: Perihelion

When the earth is closest to the sun, its position is called perihelion. Because of the comparative size of the sun and the moon, the moon's orbit around the earth as well as the position of the earth in its orbit around the sun play a part in any type of eclipse.

The penumbra is the moon's outer shadow that falls on the earth and helps create partial eclipses. Photosphere is a term for the sun's disk, while ecliptic is the orbit of the earth around the sun.

Answer: False

Total eclipses are usually brief. While in theory total eclipses occur every eighteen months, in any given thousand years fewer than ten are longer than seven minutes. For instance, an eclipse lasting longer than seven minutes took place in 1973 while the next one will only occur in 2186.

Answer: Solar filter

Looking at the sun at any time is dangerous. Forget about using binoculars, cameras or any type of foil or even used teabags! The only recommended objects are certified solar filters.

Answer: False

A planetary transit is when one planet seemingly passes in front of another planet. Transits are very rare, though. If you are still playing Funtrivia in 2065 AD, pause a moment to appreciate Venus transitting Jupiter.

Answer: Jupiter

Astronomers claim that solar eclipses occur on three other planets in our solar system. Jupiter has five moons large enough to obscure the distant sun and Pluto has three satellites that can block the sun's light. Mars has solar eclipses but due to its moons' sizes and motion, they only last about twenty seconds. Seemingly, total eclipses are unknown on the Red Planet.