Total eclipse of the smart: an eclipse themed space quiz

A total solar eclipse, with the moon only creating a sliver of light from the sun.
During a total solar eclipse, the moon blocks out the disk of the sun. (Image credit: NASA/GSFC/CI Lab)

Few skywatching experiences rival the awe of an eclipse. Whether it's the moon slipping into Earth's shadow or the sun vanishing behind the moon's silhouette, eclipses have fascinated observers for centuries. They're not just beautiful — they're precise astronomical alignments that reveal the elegant mechanics of our solar system.

This quiz will guide you through the science and spectacle of eclipses, challenging what you know and maybe even surprising you.

Whether you're planning your next eclipse-chasing road trip or want to learn more about the science of eclipses, this quiz is for you!

Try it out below and see how well you score!

Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is the Content Manager at Space.com. Formerly, she was the Science Communicator at JILA, a physics research institute. Kenna is also a freelance science journalist. Her beats include quantum technology, AI, animal intelligence, corvids, and cephalopods.

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