What phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow over part of Earth?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the sunlight from reaching the Earth. This alignment causes the Moon to cast a shadow on the Earth, which can be seen from certain locations. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun, while in a partial solar eclipse, only part of the Sun is obscured.

Understanding the mechanics of a solar eclipse helps clarify why this event is significant. The alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth must be nearly perfect for a solar eclipse to happen, which is why they are relatively rare compared to lunar eclipses, where the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.

The other options represent different astronomical events: a lunar eclipse involves the Earth casting a shadow on the Moon, a transitional eclipse is not a recognized astronomical term, and a stellar eclipse would refer to an event not related to the typical solar or lunar eclipse phenomena. Thus, the definition of a solar eclipse aligns perfectly with the question regarding the Moon's position relative to the Earth and Sun.