An eclipse takes place when a planet or moon passes between another planet, moon or the sun. There are two kinds of eclipses. One is an eclipse of the moon(Lunar Eclipse). The other is an eclipse of the sun(Solar Eclipse).
What Is a Lunar Eclipse?
The moon orbits, or goes around, Earth. Earth orbits, or goes around, the sun. Once in a while, Earth lines up directly between the sun and the moon. When this happens, Earth blocks the light from the sun to the moon. Earth's shadow then falls on the moon and the moon looks red or orange. This is an eclipse of the moon. It is called a lunar eclipse.
At least two lunar eclipses happen every year.
What Is a Solar Eclipse?
Sometimes when the moon orbits Earth, it lines up directly between the sun and Earth. When this happens, the moon blocks the light of the sun. This causes an eclipse of the sun, or a solar eclipse. During a solar eclipse, the moon casts shadows onto Earth.A solar eclipse happens during the daytime. The daylight grows dim.
Solar eclipses happen once every 18 months.
