Understanding What an Eclipse Is
An eclipse happens when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another. The most common types are solar eclipses and lunar eclipses, both caused by the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
How a Solar Eclipse Happens
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon blocks the Sun’s light, and part of Earth falls into the Moon’s shadow, creating the eclipse.
How a Lunar Eclipse Happens
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon. The Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon, making it appear darker or reddish in color.
Why Eclipses Are Rare
Eclipses don’t happen every month because the Moon’s orbit is slightly tilted. The three bodies need to line up perfectly for an eclipse to occur.
The Simple Takeaway
An eclipse is just a shadow created when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align. This alignment makes the light from the Sun partially or completely blocked, creating the event we see from Earth.