Scientists Say: Eclipse
This is what happens when a celestial body moves into the shadow of another
When the moon passes in front of the sun, the moon casts its shadow on the Earth, blocking the view of our local star. This is a type of eclipse (seen here in an illustration).
Ig0rZh/istockphoto
Eclipse (noun, “ee-CLIPs”)
This is when one celestial body — such as the moon or sun — moves into the shadow of another body. When the moon passes in front of the sun, it casts its shadow on the Earth. This causes a solar eclipse. During a lunar eclipse, Earth gets between the sun and the moon and casts its shadow over the moon. From Earth, the moon appears red. In a total eclipse, one object appears to be completely blocked by another. A partial eclipse leaves a part of the sun or moon visible from Earth.
In a sentence
A total solar eclipse occurs only about 75 times in every 100 years!
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