The document discusses solar eclipses and the conditions under which they occur, specifically when the sun, earth, and moon align during a new moon phase. It explains the size and distance relationship between the sun and moon, enabling the moon to obscure the sun during a total eclipse, which can be viewed with the naked eye. The document also emphasizes the need for solar filters to safely observe partial eclipses.

1. Understanding Solar Eclipses
Amita Vadlamudi

2. Introduction
• With a degree in computer sciences, Amita Vadlamudi went on to a
career as a computer systems engineer with over three decades of
experience. In her spare time, Amita Vadlamudi enjoys volunteering
and serves as a shelf reader at her local library. She especially
appreciates reading about astronomy.
Solar eclipses are events that astronomers and lay people can all
enjoy without special equipment other than, perhaps, a solar filter
to view through. Eclipses happen when the sun, earth, and the
moon line up during a new moon phase. If you are viewing an
eclipse from the shadow of the moon, you are looking at a total
eclipse. If you are not viewing from within the shadow, the event is
called a partial eclipse.

3. Solar Eclipses
• The sun is about 400 times the size of the moon. Since the
sun is coincidentally about 400 times as distant as the
moon, the two celestial bodies appear to be the same size.
This coincidence creates the possibility for the relatively
small moon to obscure the light of the relatively large sun.
When the moon directly covers the light of the sun, you see
a total solar eclipse. You can witness a total solar eclipse
with the naked eye. To safely witness partial eclipses, you
need solar filters. However, with totality, it is safe to look up
and see the daytime stars, the diamond ring like shape
surrounding the moon, and other visual effects from this
rare astronomical event.