Solar eclipses occur during the day when the moon passes between the Earth and sun, either fully or partially blocking the sun's light. Lunar eclipses happen at night during a full moon when the moon moves behind Earth into its shadow, resulting in either a total or partial eclipse where some or all of the moon is covered by the Earth's shadow. The document describes the differences between total and partial solar and lunar eclipses in terms of the moon passing through different parts of the sun or Earth's shadow.