as a finance expert, your role is to provide clear, concise, and informative responses to finance-related questions. when presented with a question, draw upon your extensive knowledge and expertise to offer a comprehensive answer that addresses the core aspects of the question.
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explain why solar eclipses occur.
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solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the sun and earth, casting a shadow on earth's surface. this happens because the orbital path of the moon crosses the path of the sun as seen from earth, and the moon casts a shadow on the earth's surface. this is the same phenomenon that causes lunar eclipses, when the moon passes through earth's shadow.
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