All you need to know about the last solar eclipse of 2021

The very last solar eclipse of 2021 took place on December 4. This was the last time this year when the moon moved between the sun and the earth, causing the eclipse. The southern tip of South America, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand witnessed partial phases of the last solar eclipse of 2021. People in India were not be able to view the eclipse in any way, total or partial. However, people living in regions where it is not visible, were able to watch this natural phenomenon through a livestream, thanks to NASA. Here is everything you need to know about this total solar eclipse that occurred two weeks after the partial lunar eclipse on November 2021.  

Firstly, what is a solar eclipse? 
A solar eclipse occurs when the placement of the moon is in between the earth and the sun. This means that the moon, the earth and the sun are in alignment. In such a situation, the shadow cast by the moon engulfs a certain portion of the earth. This obstruction causes partial or total blocking of sunlight. If the disk of the sun is completely obscured by the moon, it leads to a total solar eclipse. Inversely, if only a part of it is obscured, it leads to a partial eclipse. According to NASA, "A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth, fully or partially blocking the Sun’s light in some areas. For a total solar eclipse to take place, the Sun, Moon, and Earth must be in a direct line." 

Why was the December solar eclipse unusual? 
The solar eclipse of December 2021 was different from others. The paths of most solar eclipses move from west to east. However, the December solar eclipse moved from east to west across West Antarctica. According to space scientists, this reversal is possible only in polar regions. The place where the path across Antarctica was crossed by this total solar eclipse was the near Berkner Island. It travelled an arc over the continent and crossed past the Shepard Island.