what is earth's umbra
There are two parts to these shadows. The umbra is a central cone of darkness which tapers away from the Earth or Moon, whilst the penumbra is an outer cone of partial shadow which diverges instead of tapering. solar eclipse. The Moon's shadow cast on the Earth appears as a solar eclipse. An observer inside the circle of the penumbra will see a partial solar eclipse: the Moon shows as a bite taken out of the Sun's disc. Within the smaller, inner circle of the umbra the Sun will be entirely blotted out by the Moon.