What Causes a ‘Lunar Eclipse’ and How Is It Different from a Solar Eclipse?

A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth blocks the sunlight from reaching the Moon, making it look like a big shadow covers the Moon. A solar eclipse is different, it happens when the Moon blocks the Sun, and sometimes we can even see the Sun’s corona shining around the Moon. Think of them like two kinds of shadow plays: one on the Moon, and one on Earth.

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Examples

When it’s a full moon and Earth blocks the sunlight from reaching the Moon, the Moon turns red like a giant glowing ball.
During a solar eclipse, the Moon hides the Sun behind it, making the sky go dark for a little while.
Imagine the Earth as a big shield, sometimes it covers the Moon; other times, the Moon becomes the shield that blocks the Sun.

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Categories: Space · Eclipses,Moon,Sun,Earth