What type of eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth?

What type of eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth?

• A. Lunar eclipse
• B. Partial lunar eclipse
• C. Solar eclipse
• D. Total solar eclipse

Answer: (C)

When the Moon sits directly between the Sun and the Earth, it blocks sunlight from reaching part of our planet. That alignment creates a solar eclipse—the Sun is obscured from our viewpoint on Earth. The Moon doesn’t always fully cover the Sun, so you can get a total solar eclipse (Sun completely hidden), a partial solar eclipse (only part of the Sun blocked), or, if the Moon is farther away, an annular eclipse (a bright ring around the Moon). Remember, a lunar eclipse happens when Earth lies between the Sun and the Moon, casting Earth’s shadow on the Moon. So the described situation points to a solar eclipse.

When the Moon sits directly between the Sun and the Earth, it blocks sunlight from reaching part of our planet. That alignment creates a solar eclipse—the Sun is obscured from our viewpoint on Earth. The Moon doesn’t always fully cover the Sun, so you can get a total solar eclipse (Sun completely hidden), a partial solar eclipse (only part of the Sun blocked), or, if the Moon is farther away, an annular eclipse (a bright ring around the Moon). Remember, a lunar eclipse happens when Earth lies between the Sun and the Moon, casting Earth’s shadow on the Moon. So the described situation points to a solar eclipse.