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25 questions and answers

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5) If the Sun is larger than the Moon, why can the Moon "cover" the Sun?


The phenomenon of eclipses is a wonderful example of how the laws of physics and orbital geometry combine with an astonishing cosmic coincidence.

The Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon, but it is also approximately 400 times farther away. That coincidence makes them appear to be about the same size in the sky, allowing the Moon to fit almost perfectly over the Sun during a total eclipse.