Solar Eclipses

Solar Eclipses

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking sunlight. This phenomenon happens only during a new moon when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align perfectly. There are three main types of solar eclipses: total, partial, and annular.

• During a total solar ecl...

A solar eclipse occurs when a new Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, perfectly lining up to cast a shadow on Earth.

During a solar eclipse, the new Moon intersects the ecliptic, an imaginary plane in which the Earth orbits around the Sun. As a result, the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are lined up in this same plane.

The...