Auringonpimennyksen

Auringonpimennyksen, which translates to "solar eclipse" in English, is an astronomical event that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun. This can only happen during the new moon phase, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. A total solar eclipse is a rare and spectacular phenomenon where the Moon completely covers the Sun's disk. During totality, the Sun's corona, a faint outer atmosphere, becomes visible, appearing as a pearly white halo around the dark silhouette of the Moon. The sky darkens significantly, and temperatures can drop noticeably.

Solar eclipses are not visible from everywhere on Earth. The path of totality, the narrow strip on the Earth's surface where a total solar eclipse is visible, travels across the globe. Observers outside this path may witness a partial solar eclipse, where only a portion of the Sun is obscured by the Moon. Annular solar eclipses are another type, occurring when the Moon is farther from Earth and appears smaller than the Sun, leaving a ring of sunlight visible around the Moon's silhouette. Observing solar eclipses directly without proper eye protection can cause severe and permanent eye damage. Specialized eclipse glasses or viewers are necessary to safely watch these events.