Here is how an eclipse of the Sun works. The Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. It blocks the face of the Sun. That is a total eclipse. During this eclipse, the daytime sky gets dark. It looks as if it were dawn or dusk.

An eclipse of the Sun happens at the new moon. This is when the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun. Sometimes the Moon covers only part of the Sun. That is a partial eclipse. An eclipse can be seen from only a small part of Earth at a time.

Eclipses are very useful to scientists, as well as beautiful. A total eclipse shows us the corona. The corona is the Sun's outer atmosphere. We do not usually see it. The Sun's bright surface is in the way. But it shows in a total eclipse.

Now let us turn to the Moon. The Moon has eclipses too. In an eclipse of the Moon, Earth's shadow falls on it. This happens at the full moon. The Moon in a total eclipse often looks a dull red or orange.

Never look straight at the Sun without proper eye protection, even in a partial eclipse. Eclipse glasses are special glasses made for looking at the Sun safely. Regular sunglasses are not safe. Ask a grown-up for eclipse glasses. A pinhole projector lets you watch an eclipse as a shadow picture. You do not look at the Sun through the hole.

Words to know

• corona: Sun's outer atmosphere
• partial: only part
• shadow: dark patch
• atmosphere: outer air layer