A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. There are three types of lunar eclipses - total, partial, and penumbral - depending on how much of the Moon passes through the Earth's umbra or penumbra. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon takes on a red color due to refraction of sunlight through the Earth's atmosphere. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting its shadow on parts of Earth. There are also three types of solar eclipses - total, partial, and annular - depending on the Moon's position and alignment with the Earth and Sun.

1. Lunar Eclipse When Earth casts a shadow on the Moon, Earth blocks the Sun’s light from the Moon. Total Lunar Eclipse – occurs when the Moon passes completely into the umbra. Partial Lunar Eclipse – occurs when the Moon does not fully enter the umbra Penumbral Eclipse – occurs when the Moon passes through only the penumbra. They are hardly noticeable because the shadow of the Moon is very faint. A lunar eclipse can occur only during a full moon.

2. This image shows a complete transition during a lunar eclipse. Notice that the phase of the moon is "full." Totality lasts about 1 hour 4 minutes

3. Lunar Eclipse Types The types depend on what portion of the Earth's shadows the Moon interacts with

4. A Total Lunar Eclipse is not completely dark!! Refracted " Red " makes it through the Earth's Atmosphere, The " Bluer " colors are refracted more and do not make it through the atmosphere. The moon often does not totally disappear during a total lunar eclipse. Instead it can be seen as a very dark red color because of the refraction of sunlight through the Earth's atmosphere .

5. Solar Eclipse When the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, the Moon blocks the Sun’s light and casts a shadow on Earth. A solar eclipse can occur only during a new moon. Total Solar Eclipse – occurs if you are at a spot within the Moon’s umbra. Partial Solar Eclipse – is visible if you are just outside the Moon’s umbra but still in the penumbra.

6. Partial Solar Eclipse A Partial Solar Eclipse also may occur when the Moon is not quite in line with the Earth-Sun line and therefore cannot block all of the Sun from view. When this happens, only part of the penumbra reaches Earth and the umbra does not touch Earth at all, but is off to its side in space.

7. Annular Solar Eclipse Annular Solar Eclipse – occurs when the Moon is farthest from earth in its orbit, resulting in the apparent size of the Moon being slightly less than that of the Sun.

8. There is another important factor to consider: the Moon's inclined orbit shifts, rather like the rim of a spinning coin just before it comes to rest. This means that the line of nodes slowly rotates in the opposite direction to the Moon's movement, an effect called the regression of the nodes. Why the path of totality changes with each total solar eclipse