When the moon comes between the sun and the earth during its orbit around the earth, the moon will block the light coming from the sun and cause a huge shadow on the earth. This is a solar eclipse. Because the sun is almost 400 times larger than the moon and it is almost 400 times away, we look up and think both appear to be of equal size. This illusion gives the impression that the suns shadow perfectly covers the moon.

During this brief moment when the light of the sun is blocked, two shadows are actually being cast upon the earth. The first is called the umbra, also know by its cone shape. This shadow gets narrower as it reaches us. The other shadow is known as the penumbra, which actually spreads out over the planet. Depending on which shadow you are looking at the perspective of the sun being blocked changes.