An eclipse where the Moon partially covers the Sun is a ______ eclipse.

An eclipse where the Moon partially covers the Sun is a ______ eclipse.

• A. Solar
• B. Partial
• C. Lunar
• D. Annular

Answer: (B)

Understanding how solar eclipses are classified by how much of the Sun is obscured helps here. When the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, we see a solar eclipse. If the Moon’s apparent size covers only part of the Sun, only part of the Sun is blocked, giving a partial solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse is the opposite: Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. An annular eclipse is a special case where the Moon is too far away to cover the Sun completely, leaving a bright ring. Since the description says only part of the Sun is covered, this is a partial eclipse.

Understanding how solar eclipses are classified by how much of the Sun is obscured helps here. When the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, we see a solar eclipse. If the Moon’s apparent size covers only part of the Sun, only part of the Sun is blocked, giving a partial solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse is the opposite: Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. An annular eclipse is a special case where the Moon is too far away to cover the Sun completely, leaving a bright ring. Since the description says only part of the Sun is covered, this is a partial eclipse.