Resource: Solar Eclipses

The Moon cycles through its phases during its 29.5-day orbit around Earth. While the Sun always illuminates half of the Moon, the apparent shape of the Moon as seen from Earth depends on Earth's relative position. For example, at full moon, the Moon appears as a full disk because Earth is between the Moon and the Sun and the illuminated side faces Earth. But at new moon, when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, the Moon seems to be gone because the lit side faces away from Earth. A solar eclipse is only possible during the new moon phase, when the Moon's shadow can be cast on Earth. During the full moon, Earth's shadow can be cast on the Moon, resulting in a lunar eclipse.

There are several different types of eclipses, corresponding to how the Sun, Earth, and Moon align. The shadows of the Moon and Earth each have two parts. The umbra is the central part of the shadow where sunlight is completely blocked; the penumbra is the outer area where sunlight is only partially blocked. Depending on which part of the Moon's shadow is cast on Earth, a solar eclipse can be partial, annular, or total. Similarly, there are three types of lunar eclipses -- penumbral, partial, and total -- depending on which section of Earth's shadow the Moon passes through.

Eclipses do not happen at the new and full moon every month because, for most of its orbit, the Moon is above or below the ecliptic plane -- the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. Only when the Moon's orbit crosses through the ecliptic plane, can the Sun, Moon, and Earth align to produce an eclipse. This occurs at least twice a year, at varying times, for a period of a few weeks. During such seasons, there will always be a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse. Occasionally, the three bodies also align at other times of the year, producing up to seven eclipses in one year.

Though eclipses are common, total eclipses are quite rare. It is a special treat to witness a total solar eclipse, which happens only about once every 1.5 years, lasts only a few minutes, and is only visible along a narrow path. Lunar eclipses, on the other hand, can last as long as a couple of hours, are often easily observed with the naked eye, and are visible from the entire nighttime side of Earth.

To learn more about total solar eclipses, check out Total Solar Eclipse Animation.

To learn more about the total solar eclipse in 1991, check out Eclipse of the Century.

To learn more about the Sun, check out Characteristics of the Sun.

To learn more about the Moon's role in eclipses, check out Phases of the Moon.

• What is happening to the Sun as seen from Earth during a solar eclipse? Either describe or draw it.
• Why can a solar eclipse happen only during a new Moon phase?
• What would a solar eclipse look like if the Moon were smaller than it is now?
• Using two balls of quite different sizes, see if you can demonstrate why the Moon and Sun appear to be the same size when viewed from Earth.
• Based on what you now know about a solar eclipse, try to explain what happens during a lunar eclipse. (Hint: They only can happen when there is a full Moon!)