The correct answer is 2 only.

In News

• The total solar eclipse on December 14, Monday will be the last eclipse of the year.
  • Apart from Chile and Argentina, people living in southern parts of South America, south-west Africa, and Antarctica will be able to witness a partial solar eclipse.

• What is a Solar Eclipse?
  • It is a natural event that takes place on Earth when the Moon moves in its orbit between Earth and the Sun (this is also known as an occultation). Hence, Statement 1 is NOT correct.
    • It happens at New Moon when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction with each other. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
    • During an eclipse, the Moon’s shadow (which is divided into two parts: the dark umbra and the lighter penumbra) moves across Earth’s surface.
• Why isn’t there a solar eclipse every month?
  • If the Moon was only slightly closer to Earth and orbited in the same plane and its orbit was circular, we would see eclipses each month. The lunar orbit is elliptical and tilted with respect to Earth’s orbit, so we can only see up to 5 eclipses per year.
  • Depending on the geometry of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, the Sun can be totally blocked, or it can be partially blocked.