# Eclipse

Also called: lunar eclipse, solar eclipse, totality.

When one body moves into another's shadow: the Moon into Earth's (lunar eclipse) or the Moon's shadow onto Earth (solar).

A lunar eclipse happens at full Moon, when it passes through Earth's shadow and turns coppery red; it's visible from the whole night side of the Earth. A solar eclipse happens at new Moon, when the Moon blocks the Sun — total only along a narrow path.

Jupiter's moons are eclipsed too, when they pass into Jupiter's shadow and fade out in a few minutes.

**At the eyepiece:** A lunar eclipse is safe to watch with any optics. A solar eclipse needs certified eclipse glasses or a solar filter except during totality.

**In AstroPilot:** Tonight's “Coming up” lists eclipses visible from your location, with the contact times.

**Related:** [Occultation](https://astropilot.space/glossary/occultation.md), [The Moon](https://astropilot.space/glossary/the-moon.md), [Galilean moons](https://astropilot.space/glossary/galilean-moons.md)

From the AstroPilot astronomy glossary: https://astropilot.space/glossary/eclipse