Eclipses are fascinating celestial events that occur when one celestial body passes between two others, casting a shadow on the third body. The most common types of eclipses are solar and lunar eclipses. Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, while lunar eclipses happen when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon. Let's delve into the details of these two types of eclipses.

Solar Eclipse:
A solar eclipse occurs during the day when the Moon casts its shadow on the Earth. This happens when the Moon aligns perfectly with the Sun and Earth, creating a temporary blocking of the Sun's light. There are three types of solar eclipses: total, partial, and annular.

- Total Solar Eclipse: In a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely obscures the Sun, and the sky appears dark. This occurs only when the Moon is at its closest point to the Earth (perigee) and its apparent size matches the Sun's.

- Partial Solar Eclipse: During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon does not fully cover the Sun, resulting in a crescent-shaped Sun. This happens when the Moon is slightly off-center from the Sun-Earth alignment.

- Annular Solar Eclipse: An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is at its farthest point from the Earth (apogee), causing it to appear smaller than the Sun. As a result, a bright ring, known as an annulus, surrounds the Moon during the eclipse.

Lunar Eclipse:
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses occur at night when the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. This phenomenon happens when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are perfectly aligned. There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral.

- Total Lunar Eclipse: In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow completely covers the Moon, giving it a reddish hue. This happens when the Moon passes through the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, known as the umbra.

- Partial Lunar Eclipse: During a partial lunar eclipse, only a portion of the Moon is covered by the Earth's shadow. This occurs when the Moon passes through the lighter part of the Earth's shadow, called the penumbra.

- Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: In a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through the faint outer part of the Earth's shadow. This results in a subtle darkening of the Moon, but it is often difficult to distinguish from a regular full Moon.

Conclusion:
Solar and lunar eclipses are extraordinary celestial occurrences that captivate our attention. While solar eclipses involve the Moon casting its shadow on the Earth, lunar eclipses occur when the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. Whether it is the awe-inspiring sight of a total solar eclipse or the mystical beauty of a lunar eclipse, these events remind us of the vastness and wonder of our universe.