Solar and lunar eclipses

In short: In a solar eclipse the Moon moves in front of the Sun; in a lunar eclipse the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow. Both need an almost exact alignment of Sun, Earth and Moon.

In more detail: Because the Moon’s orbit is inclined by about 5 degrees to the Earth’s orbit, there is not an eclipse at every new or full moon (mondphasen).

In detail

• Total solar eclipse: The Moon covers the Sun completely. You see the corona. The umbra is only a few hundred kilometres wide.
• Partial and annular: In an annular eclipse a ring of light remains because the Moon is too far away.
• Lunar eclipse: Only at full moon. The Moon often turns reddish (“blood moon”) because Earth’s atmosphere bends red light into the shadow.
• Eye protection: Never look at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses, even when partly covered.
• Frequency: Lunar eclipses are visible from a whole half of the night side, total solar eclipses at one place only rarely.