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Solar Eclipse vs. Lunar Eclipse: What's the Difference?

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Read the comparison below, or explore it visually. Create a visual lesson comparing solar eclipse and lunar eclipse using available credits or plan allowance.

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and blocks sunlight, while a lunar eclipse happens when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon and its shadow falls on the Moon. Solar eclipses occur only at new moon and are seen from a narrow strip of Earth; lunar eclipses occur at full moon and are visible from the whole night side.

At a glance

Solar EclipseLunar Eclipse
AlignmentSun, Moon, Earth: the Moon is in the middleSun, Earth, Moon: Earth is in the middle
Moon phaseNew moonFull moon
Where visibleNarrow path; totality only along a thin trackAnywhere on Earth where it is night
Duration of totalityA few minutes at mostUp to about an hour and forty minutes
Safe viewingNeeds certified eclipse filtersSafe to watch with the naked eye

Which should you use?

Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse is the right term when daylight dims and the Sun looks like a bitten disc, as during the total solar eclipse seen across north India in July 2009.

Lunar Eclipse

A lunar eclipse is the right term when the full Moon slowly darkens and turns coppery red overnight, an event that can be watched from all of India at once.

Frequently asked questions

Why don't eclipses happen every month?
The Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun. At most new and full moons the Moon passes slightly above or below the Sun-Earth line, so its shadow misses Earth, or Earth's shadow misses it.
Why does the Moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?
Earth's atmosphere bends sunlight into its shadow. On the way through, air scatters away most blue light, the same effect that makes sunsets red, so only reddish light reaches the Moon and gives it a coppery colour.
Can a solar eclipse damage your eyes?
Yes. Looking at the uncovered Sun, even when partly eclipsed, can burn the retina without pain. Ordinary sunglasses are not enough; only certified solar filters or indirect methods like pinhole projection are safe, and anyone with vision problems afterwards should see a doctor.