Difference Between Solar Eclipse And Lunar Eclipse

Difference Between Solar And Lunar Eclipse

The major dissimilarities or difference between solar eclipse and lunar eclipse can be highlighted as follows:

1. Introduction

Solar Eclipse: An astronomical event in which moon blocks the sun.

Lunar Eclipse: An astronomical event in which earth blocks the sun.

2. What Is It?

Solar Eclipse: It is moon's shadow on the earth.

Lunar Eclipse: It is earth's shadow on the moon.

3. Position Of Moon And Earth

Solar Eclipse: It occurs when moon is in the middle of sun and earth.

Lunar Eclipse: It occurs when earth in the middle of sun and moon.

4. Visible

Solar Eclipse: It is less visible than lunar eclipse because of small shadow of moon.

Lunar Eclipse: It is widely visible than solar eclipse because of big shadow of earth.

5. Lasts For

Solar Eclipse: It lasts for short period of time because of small shadow ( generally about 4-9 minutes)

Lunar Eclipse: It lasts for longer period of time because of big shadow (generally about 40-60 minutes)

6. Occurs During

Solar Eclipse: Day

Lunar Eclipse: Night

7. Occurrence Frequency

Solar Eclipse: Once in one and half year (18 months)

Lunar Eclipse: Once in six months

8. Safe To Look

Solar Eclipse: It is not safe to look with naked eyes.

Lunar Eclipse: It is 100 % safe to look with naked eyes.

Solar Eclipse Vs Lunar Eclipse (Comparison Chart)

Basis	Solar Eclipse	Lunar Eclipse
Introduction	It occurs when sun is blocked by moon	It occurs when sun is blocked by earth
Position Of Earth And Moon	Moon is in the middle	Earth is in the middle
Visible	Less visible	Widely visible
Lasting Period	Shorter	Longer
Occurs During	Day time	Night
Occurrence Frequency	1.5 years	6 months
Safe To Look	No	Yes

I hope this post is helpful to understand the difference between solar and lunar eclipse and to make comparison between them.