Eclipses — Astronomy, 4–6 years
An eclipse happens when one space object moves in front of another and blocks some of its light. The Sun, Earth and Moon have to line up in a special way.
Light being covered
An eclipse is a shadow event in space. One object gets between a light source and another object, so part of the light is hidden. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon hides part of the Sun from some places on Earth; a lunar eclipse happens when Earth's shadow reaches the Moon.
Why eclipses are not every month
The Moon goes around Earth every month, so it is reasonable to expect an eclipse every month. But the Moon's path is tilted a little compared with Earth's path around the Sun. Most months, the Moon passes a bit above or below the exact line needed for a shadow.
A lamp, a ball and a small ball
Put a lamp on one side of a room, a large ball in the middle and a small ball between them. The lamp is the Sun, the large ball is Earth and the small ball is the Moon. Move the small ball until its shadow falls on the large ball: from that direction, it models a solar eclipse.
The Sun has not gone out
During a solar eclipse, the Sun can look like a bright crescent or disappear briefly from a small area. It is easy to think the Sun has switched off, especially when the sky becomes darker. The light is being blocked from that place; the Sun is still shining, and safe viewing protection is essential.
Watching a real eclipse safely
Eclipses let scientists test how light, shadows and space objects line up. They also give people a chance to compare a prediction with what they actually see. Never look directly at a solar eclipse through ordinary sunglasses, binoculars or a camera; use proper certified eclipse viewers with an adult's help.
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