In this topic you will learn about how the locations of the Sun and the Moon affect what we see.

The Sun is much bigger than the Moon. It looks about the same size as the Moon because it is much farther away from Earth than the Moon.

The Moon orbits Earth. Together, Earth and the Moon orbit the Sun. Sometimes the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, causing an eclipse. An eclipse occurs when one object passes into the shadow of another object. When the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, the Moon's shadow falls on part of Earth. This is a solar eclipse. Solar means sun. Sometimes Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun. When this happens, Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, and there is a lunar eclipse. The word lunar means moon. To see a lunar eclipse you must be on the side of Earth facing the Moon.

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the Sun's light. The Moon's shadow covers only a part of Earth. In that part of Earth, the Sun cannot be seen and it gets very dark. If only part of the Moon's shadow falls on Earth, a partial solar eclipse happens. Only part of the Sun is blocked and it does not get as dark.

If the Moon or the Sun were a different size, or a different distance from Earth, eclipses wouldn't happen like they do now.