What is the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse?

Answer 1

Answer 2

Eclipses occur when one celestial object blocks another. A solar eclipse occurs when the light from the sun is blocked by the moon. A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth's shadow falls on the moon. How is this possible when these 3 celestial bodies are such different sizes?

When a solar eclipse occurs, the moon is located between the earth and the sun, making it the new moon phase. Imagine holding your hand at arms length in front of your face. You can see things all around you. But if you bring your hand very close to your face, you can't see anything. That is the same phenomenon as an eclipse. The moon is close to the earth and blocks out the sun's light. But the sun is still shining and that is why you can not look directly at the eclipse. Remember, when the moon is in between the earth and the sun it is a new moon and a solar eclipse.

A lunar eclipse occurs during the full moon. How can the earth block the sun's rays from shining on the moon? It's that same apparent distance explanation. The sun is so large that it's rays extend beyond the radius of the earth and will shine on the moon during a full moon. But as the earth continues its incremental orbit around the sun, it will block the sun's rays on the moon for several hours. It is as if you are watching a complete cycle of phases, going from full moon, to waning phase, to the new moon, and waxing back to the full moon in the course of several hours.