A kind of eclipse is an event in which the shadow of one celestial body is cast onto another. The three most common types of eclipses are lunar, SOLAR, and TOTAL. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight from reaching the Moon and casting a shadow on it. A SOLAR eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the sunlight from reaching the Earth and casting a shadow on it. A TOTAL eclipse is a type of SOLAR eclipse in which the Moon completely covers the Sun, blocking all of its light from reaching the Earth.