Eclipses
When planets and their moons orbit the sun they cast shadows.
When the planet or moon cast a shadow on the other that is called an eclipse.
The Earth's shadow falling on the Moon is a lunar eclipse.
When the lunar eclipse happens the Earth is passing between the sun and the Moon.
The shadow of an eclipse is darker in the middle and lighter in the edges.
During a lunar eclipse the sun's light bends around the Earth and dimly lights the Moon.
There is usually one eclipse a year.
The Moon's shadow falling on the Earth is a solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.
A solar eclipse can only be seen from were the moon's shadow is on Earth.
The umbra is a darker shadow and the penumbra is a lighter shadow in an eclipse.
In a total eclipse, the Moon is completly blocking the Sun.
The moon does not hide the sun completely during an eclipse. It appears that the moon is dark and there is a band of light around it. This is called a annular eclipse.