Millions of people across Europe were able to see a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, an event that should not be confused with a lunar eclipse, according to CNN.
The difference between the two comes down to how the Sun, the Moon and the Earth line up with one another.
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun. In a total solar eclipse, such as the one seen on August 12, the Moon completely blocks the Sun, briefly darkening the sky.
Other types of solar eclipse
Beyond a total eclipse, there are several other kinds. In an annular eclipse, the Moon is near the farthest point of its orbit from Earth, so it cannot cover the Sun entirely. That position creates what looks like a ring of fire around the Moon, according to NASA.
A partial eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks only part of the Sun, producing a crescent shape. On August 12, only people within the path of totality were able to see a total solar eclipse, while others in Canada, Alaska and parts of the eastern United States could still see a partial eclipse.
A hybrid eclipse can switch between annular and total because of the curvature of the Earth's surface, NASA says.
How a lunar eclipse differs
A lunar eclipse works in reverse: the Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. This can sometimes turn the Moon red, because the Earth's atmosphere absorbs the other colors of light, according to NASA.
Why eclipses are rare
Eclipses do not happen often because the Moon does not orbit in the same plane as the Earth and the Sun, NASA notes. The Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the Sun, which is why the three bodies only line up precisely on occasion.
