How Does a ‘Solar Eclipse’ Happen and Why Is It So Dramatic?

A solar eclipse happens when the moon covers the sun. Imagine the moon is a little ball that blocks the big, bright sun, like putting a lid on a flashlight. It gets dark and magical in the middle of the day because the light from the sun stops shining through.

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Examples

A child sees a bright circle disappear in the sky and thinks it’s magic.
The sun disappears midday, and the world feels like it has gone into nighttime.
People look up at the sky as if they are watching a giant cover the sun.

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Categories: Physics · solar eclipse,astronomy,celestial events