Which statement describes a lunar eclipse?

• A. Occurs at a full moon when Earth is directly between the moon and the sun
• B. Occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth
• C. The Sun is obscured by the Moon
• D. The Moon falls into the Sun’s shadow

Answer: (A)

A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth sits directly between the Moon and the Sun during a full Moon. In that alignment, Earth casts its shadow on the Moon, causing it to darken and sometimes take on a reddish color as sunlight filters through Earth's atmosphere. This is different from a solar eclipse, which occurs when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth during a new Moon, blocking the Sun’s light. The idea of the Sun being obscured by the Moon describes a solar eclipse, not a lunar one. Saying the Moon falls into the Sun’s shadow is misleading because it’s Earth’s shadow, not the Sun’s, that covers the Moon during a lunar eclipse. So the statement that fits describes a full Moon with Earth between Moon and Sun.