However, this example of legal political patronage can very easily become an example of corruption. If, while campaigning for governor, the candidate asked for someone's support in exchange for a position in his or her administration, this would be an act of illegal patronage.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon blocks the sun from the earth, and a lunar eclipse when the earth blocks the sun from the moon. Because the apparent diameter (how big it looks) of the moon is about the same as the sun, the alignment of the earth, moon and sun have to be almost perfect for a solar eclipse to occur.
The Moon Eclipses the Sun. Solar eclipses happen when the New Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking out the Sun's rays and casting a shadow on parts of Earth. The Moon's shadow is not big enough to engulf the entire planet, so the shadow is always limited to a certain area (see map illustrations below).