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A partial eclipse occurs when one celestial body is not entirely obscured by another. In astronomy, this can refer to either a solar or lunar eclipse.1

A partial solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon covers only a portion of the Sun's surface. This means some direct sunlight still reaches the observer.23

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through only a part of Earth's shadow (the umbra). The Moon is not completely immersed in the shadow, so only a portion of it appears darkened.24

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