Ana observed a solar eclipse: during the middle of a day, sunlight was blocked and the sky became dark. She asked: What causes a solar eclipse to occur, and why? Construct an explanation to describe what causes a solar eclipse to occur by describing the patterns of motion that cause a solar eclipse.

Be sure to:

Identify the objects that are responsible for solar eclipses.

Describe the motions of each object, and the length of time to complete each motion.

Describe the relative position of each object during a solar eclipse.

Explain why solar eclipses do not occur every month.