When a solar eclipse occurs, the correct statement is:
- The moon moves between the sun and the earth.
During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and the earth, blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow on the earth. This alignment causes the moon to temporarily obscure the sun, creating a shadow on a portion of the earth's surface. This phenomenon can be either total or partial, depending on the alignment of the sun, moon, and earth.
In contrast, a lunar eclipse occurs when the earth passes between the sun and the moon, causing the earth's shadow to fall on the moon. This results in the moon appearing darker or taking on a reddish hue, known as a "blood moon," due to the earth's atmosphere refracting sunlight onto the lunar surface.
Understanding the positions of the sun, moon, and earth during solar and lunar eclipses helps explain why each type of eclipse occurs and how they differ in appearance and occurrence.
