How does the umbra differ from the penumbra during an eclipse?

During an eclipse, the primary difference between the umbra and the penumbra lies in the degree to which light from the source is obstructed:

• Umbra: This is the darkest, central portion of a shadow where all light from the source is completely excluded. During a solar eclipse, observers located within the umbra experience a total eclipse.12
• Penumbra: This is the outer, lighter part of the shadow where the light source is only partially blocked. Observers situated in the penumbra during a solar eclipse see the Sun only partially obscured, resulting in a partial eclipse.21

While the umbra represents the region of total shadow, the penumbra acts as a transition zone of partial shadow surrounding it.12