Definitions found on Wikipedia: an eclipse (Greek verb: , "to vanish", though it derives from the prefix 'ex-', "away from", and Greek 'leipein', "to leave") is an astronomical event that occurs when one celestial object moves into the shadow of another...
Being at the right place at the right time. Although a total lunar or solar eclipse is not a rare event, it depends on where you are on Earth when it happens in order to see it. For those of us who live on this part of the planet, the next total lunar eclipse won't be for another two years.
A science class refresher (for me mostly):
- Solar Eclipse: when the earth, moon and the sun are in alignment with the moon blocking the sun as seen from the earth.
- Lunar Eclipse: when the moon, earth and the sun line up with the earth blocking the sun and casting its shadow on the moon.
- New Moon: when the moon is between the earth and the sun. Sunlight does not strike the side of the moon facing earth. So we hardly see the moon.
- Full Moon: when the moon and the sun are directly opposite of each other with earth in the middle. Sunlight strikes the side of the moon facing earth so we see an illuminated moon.
So, solar eclipse happens during the new moon phase and lunar eclipse during full moon. Make sense?
Can't visualize what's it look like? Here's a link: The Moon Phases
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