What Is an Eclipse

An eclipse is like a game of hide-and-seek in space. The sun and moon take turns hiding from Earth.

The moon and Earth move in paths called orbits. Earth orbits the sun. The moon orbits Earth. Sometimes these paths line up. Then an eclipse happens.

We can see two kinds of eclipses. The sun hides during a solar eclipse. The moon looks dark in a lunar eclipse.

Solar Eclipse

The Moon slowly moves in front of the sun in a solar eclipse. The sky grows dark. Sunlight makes a red glow behind the moon.

Eclipses cover either all or part of the sun. Total eclipses cover all of the sun. Partial eclipses cover part of the sun.