What Causes a ‘Total’ Solar Eclipse?

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon moves exactly between the sun and the Earth, blocking all of the sun’s light. It feels like night during the day! Imagine you're in a dark room, and someone holds up a flashlight, if they block it completely with their hand, it gets really dark. That's what happens when the moon blocks the sun.

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Examples

  1. Imagine you're eating a sandwich, if your hand suddenly blocks all the sunlight coming through the window, it feels like night time!
  2. Like when you're playing hide-and-seek, and someone covers your eyes completely, that’s what happens during a total solar eclipse.
  3. If the moon is like a shield in front of the sun, blocking every single ray of light, then the world becomes dark for a few minutes.

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Categories: Space · solar eclipse· moon· sun· astronomy