Throughout human history people have been fascinated by the movements of the stars, planets, moon, and sun. One of the most impressive things for these ancient humans to witness were eclipses. Both of the sun and of the moon.

A Solar Eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking its light. This can only happen during a new moon, when the sun and moon are in alignment.

A Lunar Eclipse occurs when the earth passes between the sun and moon, blocking sunlight from reaching the moon. This can only happen during a full moon, when the sun and moon are in alignment.

There are two types of solar eclipses: partial and total. A partial eclipse is when the sun is only partially covered by the moon, while a total eclipse is when the sun is completely covered. A total eclipse is a very rare event, as it can only happen when the sun, moon, and earth are perfectly aligned.

Lunar eclipses can also be either partial or total, but they are much more common than solar eclipses. Partial lunar eclipses happen when the earth blocks some, but not all, of the sun’s light from reaching the moon. Total lunar eclipses are when the earth completely blocks the sun’s light from reaching the moon, turning it a deep red color.

Eclipses have been seen as both good and bad omens throughout history. Some cultures saw them as a sign of anger from the gods, while others saw them as a time of special power or connection to the divine. Today, we know that eclipses are simply a natural phenomenon that happens when the sun, moon, and earth align in a certain way.

Have you ever seen a solar or lunar eclipse? What did you think of it?