what are the types of eclipses

There are two main categories of eclipses we see from Earth—solar and lunar —and each of them comes in several types.

Quick Scoop: All the Main Types

1. Solar eclipses (Sun goes dark)

Happen when the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun.

• Total solar eclipse – The Moon completely covers the Sun for observers in a narrow path called the path of totality , and the sky briefly turns twilight-dark while the Sun’s faint outer atmosphere (the corona) becomes visible.

• Partial solar eclipse – The Moon covers only part of the Sun, so it looks like a “bite” has been taken out of it; daylight dims but it doesn’t get fully dark.

• Annular solar eclipse – The Moon is a bit farther from Earth and looks slightly smaller, so it doesn’t fully cover the Sun and a bright “ring of fire” remains around the Moon.

• Hybrid solar eclipse – A rare type that appears total along some parts of its path and annular along others, due to Earth’s curvature and the Moon’s varying distance.

Picture this: you’re standing in the right place at the right moment, and noon suddenly feels like sunset while stars pop out in the middle of the day—that’s the drama of a total solar eclipse.

2. Lunar eclipses (Moon goes dark/red)

Happen when Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon and Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.

• Total lunar eclipse – The entire Moon moves into Earth’s darkest central shadow (the umbra). It often turns coppery red because Earth’s atmosphere bends and filters sunlight into the shadow, creating a “blood Moon.”

• Partial lunar eclipse – Only part of the Moon enters the umbra, so a clear dark “chunk” is missing from the lunar disk while the rest stays bright.

• Penumbral lunar eclipse – The Moon passes only through Earth’s outer, lighter shadow (the penumbra). The dimming is subtle and can look like just a gentle shading, often easy to miss if you’re not watching closely.

Simple HTML table of eclipse types

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Category</th>
      <th>Type</th>
      <th>What happens?</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Solar</td>
      <td>Total solar eclipse</td>
      <td>Moon fully covers the Sun; sky darkens, corona becomes visible along a narrow path.[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Solar</td>
      <td>Partial solar eclipse</td>
      <td>Moon covers only part of the Sun; daylight dims but it does not become night-like.[web:1][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Solar</td>
      <td>Annular solar eclipse</td>
      <td>Moon appears slightly smaller than the Sun, leaving a bright “ring of fire.”[web:1][web:7][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Solar</td>
      <td>Hybrid solar eclipse</td>
      <td>Rare eclipse that appears total in some locations and annular in others along its path.[web:1][web:3][web:7][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lunar</td>
      <td>Total lunar eclipse</td>
      <td>Entire Moon passes into Earth’s umbra and often turns red (a “blood Moon”).[web:1][web:5][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lunar</td>
      <td>Partial lunar eclipse</td>
      <td>Only part of the Moon enters the umbra, creating a distinct dark bite.[web:1][web:5][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lunar</td>
      <td>Penumbral lunar eclipse</td>
      <td>Moon passes through Earth’s penumbra only; slight, sometimes barely visible dimming.[web:1][web:5][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Why this is a trending topic lately

Eclipses tend to spike in searches and forum chats whenever a major event is coming up—especially total or annular solar eclipses whose paths cross densely populated regions. In recent years, several high-profile eclipses have turned into travel events, with people flying across continents just to spend a few minutes in the path of totality and share real-time photos, timelapses, and personal reactions online.

On forums, you’ll often see two kinds of posts: excited first-timers planning trips, and “eclipse chasers” trading tips on gear, weather, and the best viewing spots.

TL;DR

• Two big families: solar eclipses (Sun darkens) and lunar eclipses (Moon darkens or reddens).

• Solar types: total , partial , annular , hybrid.

• Lunar types: total , partial , penumbral.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.