This animation helps illustrate the movements of the Earth around the Sun, and the Moon around the Earth. For more on the Earth-Moon-Sun system, check out our Looking Up! guide or our
Eclipses
Eclipses are among the most dramatic events the sky has to offer, and they're a perfect window into the Earth-Sun-Moon system. Whether it's the Moon sliding into Earth's shadow or the Moon blocking our view of the Sun, every eclipse is a reminder that we live on a moving world in a moving solar system.
On this page, you'll find resources to help you understand the different types of eclipses, why they happen, and how to address some of the common misconceptions students bring to the topic. Whether you're brushing up before your astronomy unit or just looking for something to share with your class, there's something here for you.
Get started!
There are a few different types of eclipses, and we will help you understand each one! Let's start with the differences between total eclipses and partial eclipses:
Total Eclipses
A total eclipse happens when one object in space completely blocks another from view. This occurs when the objects line up perfectly with an observer.
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth completely blocks sunlight from the Moon.
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks our view of the Sun.
Partial Eclipses
A partial eclipse happens when one object in space blocks only part of another from view because the objects are not perfectly aligned.
During a partial lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow only partially covers the moon.
During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon obscures only part of the Sun.
Total eclipses always have partial presentation, but partial eclipses can happen without totality. Here’s why:
Lunar eclipses:
When Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon, if the alignment is perfect, the whole Moon goes into Earth’s darkest shadow, that’s a total lunar eclipse. But as the alignment slowly comes together, you'll see the shadow of the Earth crawl over the face of the moon before it is completely shadowed.
Solar eclipses:
When the alignment is perfect the Moon fully covers the Sun and, same as above, as the alignment comes together you'll see a partial eclipse before the maximum (total) eclipse occurs. Additionally, a total eclipse creates a path of totality. Because it's such a precise alignment, not everyone will see the Sun obscured perfectly. So around that path, where the alignment is slightly off, people see a partial eclipse.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. From Earth, this can make the Moon appear darker, partially shadowed, or reddish in colour, depending on the type of eclipse and how deeply the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow.
Total lunar eclipse. Illustration not to scale.
Lunar eclipses only happen during a full Moon, but they do not occur every month because the Moon’s orbit is slightly tilted compared to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Most of the time, the Moon passes above or below Earth’s shadow. Only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align closely enough can a lunar eclipse occur.
what is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on the Earth. From our perspective, this can look like the Moon is blocking out the Sun in the sky, either completely or partially, depending on the type of eclipse and the observer’s location within the Moon’s shadow.
Total solar eclipse. Illustration not to scale.
Solar eclipses only happen occasionally because the Moon’s orbit is tilted compared to Earth’s orbit around the Sun, so the Sun, Moon, and Earth do not line up perfectly every month. Only about twice a year does the alignment become close enough to allow solar eclipses to occur, but they are only visible from specific regions of Earth, not everywhere at once.
An annular eclipse happens when the alignment is perfect (just like a total solar eclipse) however it happens when the Moon's orbit is further from earth, making it appear a bit too small to totally obscure the sun, leaving a visible "ring of fire."
The Extraordinary Precision of Solar Eclipses
Solar eclipses happen because the Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon, but also about 400 times farther away, so they appear almost the same size in our sky. That perfect coincidence lets the Moon fully cover the Sun during a total eclipse.
But the Moon is slowly drifting away from Earth, and one day (millions of years from now) it will be too small in our sky to ever fully block the Sun again.
Simulating an eclipse in your classroom
By inputting the right date and time, these tools can simulate any eclipse! So, even without the real thing, you can bring the magic of eclipses into your classroom!
Stellarium
This tool can be used for a myriad of things, including simulating lunar and solar eclipses!
This tool allows you to simulate solar eclipses, and shows data including the path of totality.
To simulate a Lunar Eclipse
Use the following data:
Location: Kingston, ON, Canada
Begins: Mon, Jun 25, 2029 at 8:43 pm
Maximum: Mon, Jun 25, 2029 at 11:22 pm
Ends: Tue, Jun 26, 2029 at 2:09 am
Duration: 5 hours, 26 minutes
To simulate a Solar Eclipse
Use the following data:
Location: Kingston, ON, Canada
Begins: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Maximum: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Ends: Mon, Apr 8, 2024 at 4:34 pm
Duration: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Totality: 3 minutes, 4 seconds
Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Many cultures have stories about the skies; it's a great way for us to understand natural phenomena and feel more connected to our planet. The Indigenous peoples of Canada have a rich and vibrant oral history. We are proud to share three such eclipse stories with you.
You can read the following stories in English, French, Mohawk, Innu, or MikMaq:
This video features these three storytellers sharing their eclipse stories through oral storytelling. Originally created for the 2024 solar eclipse materials, we know it's a valuable resource for your classroom!
activities
Grades: All levels
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Individual or small groups
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Hands-on learning
Students create an eclipse pinhole projector for the observing the solar eclipse indirectly.
Grades: Primary
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Small groups
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Hands-on learning
Students use balloons representing the Earth and the Moon to simulate eclipses. Ideally, this activity is done outside with the real Sunlight. Otherwise, it can be done indoors with a lamp.
Grades: 6 — 12
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Small groups
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Hands-on learning
Students will use a scale model to represent the Earth-Moon system and create eclipses. Ideally, this activity is done outside with the true sunlight. Otherwise, it can be done indoors with a lamp.
Grades: 6 — 12
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Individual or small groups
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Hands-on learning
Students calculate the relative sizes of the Moon and the Sun in the sky and compare them to other moons in our Solar System. Primary and junior secondary students will use ratios for this exercise, and senior secondary students will use angular diameter (trigonometry).
Grades: 6 — 12
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Pairs or small groups
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Hands-on learning
Students will investigate the eclipse for their local and personal context. They will explore historical and cultural connections with solar eclipses through various methods, including using online material, print material, and interviews.
classroom-ready slides
We’ve created ready-to-use slide decks to make sharing these themes with your students easy and engaging. Just download the Google Slides Presentation (in whichever format you prefer), then customize anything you’d like so it fits your teaching style and goals. You’ll also find a few hidden slides with extra tips, plus speaker notes to help guide your flow. The guides are there to build your confidence and understanding, while the slides are all about bringing that learning to life in your classroom.
2024 Eclipse Legacy
On April 8, 2024 eastern Canada was fortunate enough to experience a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse. We worked diligently to educate the public, train educators, deliver safety glasses, and advocate for experiencing the eclipse directly. During the lead-up to the event, we create a number of resources for classrooms that we think might still be interesting to explore.
With Stellarium you can simulate the April 8, 2024 eclipse and use our resources to bring this fascinating Earth-Moon-Sun dynamic into your classroom.
Sun, Moon, Action!
Understanding the Eclipse
Eclipse 101
What was visible on April 8, 2024?
Do you have a memory of this eclipse?
What you might have seen depended on where you were! The total eclipse was visible from a band called the path of totality. Outside this path, people could only see a partial eclipse (where the Moon did not cover the Sun completely). The closer you were to the path of totality, the more the Sun would be covered by the Moon.
The 2024 total solar eclipse inspired an incredible amount of educational outreach and resource development across North America. So we have gathered a selection of eclipse resources here to highlight the excellent work undertaken by other organisations, institutions, and educators. The supplementary resources below include additional activities, teaching materials, and eclipse information that may be valuable in the classroom.
If you wish to see the old eclipse page, you may still do so here.
image gallery
Here you can download all the images from the guide to use as you wish. If you're sharing something of your own, unless noted otherwise in the guide please credit Discover the Universe and link back to this webpage.
