What occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun?

When the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, a solar eclipse occurs. During this event, the Moon obscures the Sun either partially or completely as viewed from different locations on Earth. This phenomenon happens because the Moon is in a direct line with the Sun and Earth, allowing it to block out the sunlight.

Solar eclipses can be total or partial, depending on the alignment and distances involved. In a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun, and this can lead to a brief moment of darkness during the day. During a partial solar eclipse, only a part of the Sun is obscured.

The other options refer to different celestial events: a lunar eclipse happens when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, an asteroid impact involves a space rock colliding with a planet or moon, and a planetary transit occurs when a planet passes directly between the Earth and a distant star, blocking a small fraction of the star's light.