Eclipses
An eclipse occurs when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another, such as the Moon blocking the Sun.
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Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
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An eclipse occurs when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another, such as the Moon blocking the Sun.
- Solar eclipse: Moon passes between Sun and Earth
- Lunar eclipse: Earth's shadow falls on the Moon
- Total eclipses are rare in any one place
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Eclipses?
Within Earth & Environmental Science, which covers our planet, its resources and ecosystems, and how people can protect the environment, this topic explains Eclipses. Earth and environment topics show how the planet’s systems shape landscapes, climate and life, with models that make these processes visible.
Check that you can explain Eclipses in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Eclipses helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
Eclipses in detail
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth. In a total eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun for a few minutes in a small area, and the Sun's corona is visible. In a partial eclipse, only part is covered.
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, so the Moon moves into Earth's shadow and often turns a coppery red. They do not happen every month because the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° compared with Earth's orbit. Never look directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse without proper eye protection.
How the interactive helps you understand Eclipses
Watch the Earth model in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the Earth model responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Eclipses.
Real-life uses and examples
- Explain how Eclipses affects the landscape or climate near you.
- Link Eclipses to a real environmental problem and a possible solution.
- Use a diagram of Eclipses to describe the steps of a process in order.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing a process without the timescale it works over.
- Presenting one cause as the only cause of an environmental change.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Eclipses
What is Eclipses?
An eclipse occurs when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another, such as the Moon blocking the Sun.
What are the most important points about Eclipses?
The main points are: Solar eclipse: Moon passes between Sun and Earth; Lunar eclipse: Earth's shadow falls on the Moon; Total eclipses are rare in any one place.
Why is Eclipses useful?
Understanding Eclipses helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
How can I practise Eclipses?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Eclipses?
Related topics in Earth & Environmental Science include Stars and Constellations, Satellites and Their Uses, The Rock Cycle.