ASVAB General Science Practice Test

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the sunlight from reaching parts of the Earth. During this event, the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth, which can result in a total eclipse, where the Sun is completely obscured, or a partial eclipse, where only a part of the Sun is obscured.

This phenomenon highlights the specific alignment necessary for a solar eclipse to occur, as it requires the Moon to be in the new moon phase when it is closest to the Earth. A lunar eclipse, on the other hand, happens when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the Moon. Therefore, the key aspect of a solar eclipse is the Moon's position being between the Earth and the Sun, making it the correct answer.