Solar and lunar eclipses
Solar Eclipse:
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, blocking sunlight from Earth.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between Earth and the sun, blocking sunlight from Earth.
The darkest part of the moon's shadow is called the umbra. In this area, light is completely blocked out. The penumbra is a larger part of the shadow that is less dark and only see a partial eclipse.
Lunar Eclipse:
A lunar eclipse occurs at a full moon when the Earth is between the moon and sun, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon.
A lunar eclipse occurs at a full moon when the Earth is between the moon and sun, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon.
When the entire moon is in Earth's umbra, a total lunar eclipse can be seen anywhere on Earth that the moon is visible. When the Earth, moon, and sun are not quite in line, only a partial lunar eclipse results when the moon passes into the umbra of the Earth's shadow.