The sun is something we can always count on seeing during the day. It shines brightly in the sky, giving us warmth and light. But did you know that sometimes you can also see the moon during the day? The moon travels around the Earth, completing a full circle every month. Sometimes, we see it only at night, but other times, it appears during the day too.
Every now and then, when both the sun and the moon are in the sky during the day, something exciting can happen: a solar eclipse! A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves directly between the sun and the Earth. This blocks some of the sun’s light and casts a huge shadow on our planet. Even though it only lasts a few minutes, it can make the sky look as dark as night!
Not all solar eclipses are the same. They can look different depending on where you are on Earth and where the moon’s shadow falls. A total solar eclipse is when the moon completely covers the sun, making the sky very dark. A partial solar eclipse is when the moon covers just a part of the sun, making it look like a cookie with a bite taken out of it!
Solar eclipses don’t happen very often because the sun, moon, and Earth need to line up just right. The next solar eclipse is on March 20! However, not everyone will be able to see it. Only people in the path of the moon’s shadow will get a view. In the United States, we won’t see it, but people in Europe, especially in the north, will have the best view. They’ll experience a total eclipse, with a few minutes of darkness around breakfast time. Others in Europe, Asia, and Africa will see a partial eclipse, where the sun looks like it has a small bite missing.
It’s important to remember never to look directly at a solar eclipse. The sun’s rays can harm your eyes, even if the sun is partially covered. So, next time you’re outside during the day, see if you can spot the moon. What does it look like? We’ll be watching for it too!
