Moon comes in between the Earth and the Sun a big happen (Solar Eclipse)

Have you ever thought what happnes when Moon comes in between the Earth and the Sun during its rotation?. We know that Sun is luminous object whereas Moon is not luminous and reflectes the light of the Sun. Therefore, when the Moon happens to come in between the Earth and the Sun during its rotation such that all the three objects lie on the same stragith line, the Sun hides itself behind the Moon and it cannot be seen from the Earth. Hence, dark side of the Moon is seen in place of the Sun.  It is called solar eclipse.

Moon is much smaller than the earth. Therefore, it casts its shadow on a small part of the Earth.  The width of the belt where the complete solar ecplise can be seen is never more than 267 killometers.  The area from where partial or incompleted solar eclipse can be seen extends on both sides of this belt from 3200 to 4000 kilometers. Solar ecpliseis seen at those placesonly where this shadow is falling.  In Fig.18.6 complete and partial solar ecplise havebeen shown.

Tidbits.

Unlike lunar eclipse, solar eclipse is rarly seen.  The only reason for this is that the lenght of the shadow of theMoon is 371200 kilometers and often it fails to reach the Earth.  The solar eclipse takes place only when the Sun, the Moon and the Earth lie on the same straight line and the distance of Moon from the Earth is less than371200 kilometers.