What type of eclipse happens when a full moon passes through Earth's shadow?

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A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the full moon, causing the Earth's shadow to cover the moon. This alignment allows the moon to pass through the Earth's shadow, resulting in the dimming or complete darkening of the moon, which can take on a reddish hue due to the scattering of sunlight through the Earth's atmosphere, a phenomenon often referred to as a "blood moon."

In contrast, a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on Earth. A partial eclipse refers to only part of the moon or sun being obscured by the shadow. An annual eclipse is a specific type of solar eclipse where the moon is too far from Earth to completely cover the sun, resulting in a "ring of fire" effect around the moon. Hence, the description of a full moon passing through Earth's shadow accurately defines a lunar eclipse.

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