When the Moon Hides the Sun
On August 12, 2026, people in a narrow part of Earth will have a chance to see the Sun disappear behind the Moon. For a short time, the sky will darken, and the Sun’s outer atmosphere may shine around the Moon’s dark shape. This event is called a total solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun. The Moon blocks some or all of the Sun’s light from reaching certain places on Earth. Although the Sun is much larger than the Moon, it is also much farther away. From Earth, the two can appear nearly the same size in the sky. During a total eclipse, the Moon appears large enough to cover the Sun’s bright face completely.
The Moon’s shadow falls on only part of Earth. Within a narrow strip called the path of totality, observers can see the Sun completely covered, if the sky is clear. Outside that strip, people may see a partial solar eclipse instead. In a partial eclipse, the Moon covers only part of the Sun, so some of its bright face remains visible.
- narrow:
- Not wide.
- observers:
- People who watch something carefully.
- visible:
- Able to be seen.
- eventually:
- After some time.
- reappears:
- Comes into view again.
- directly:
- Without anything in between.
- surface:
- The outside or top layer of something.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why can the Moon cover the Sun’s bright face even though the Sun is much larger?
- 2How do views inside and outside the path of totality differ?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“When the Moon Hides the Sun” is a explanatory article reading passage about Solar eclipses, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (552 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.