The Manner in which an Eclipse Occurs

An eclipse happens when one celestial body, such as the Moon or Earth, moves into the shadow cast by another celestial body. There are two types: solar and lunar eclipses.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's light. There are three types of solar eclipses: total, partial, and annular. In a total solar eclipse, the Moon fully covers the Sun, creating a darkened area on Earth for a short period. During a partial solar eclipse, only a portion of the Sun is covered. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is farther from the Earth, causing the Sun to appear as a ring around the Moon.

A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon. This occurs only during a full moon. Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, creating a reddish hue due to the Earth's atmosphere scattering sunlight. There are two main types of lunar eclipses: partial and total. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon is covered by Earth's shadow, while in a partial lunar eclipse, only a part of the Moon is covered.