Solar Eclipse

A Solar Eclipse occurs when an observer on Earth passes through the shadow cast by the Moon which fully or partially blocks the Sun. This happens when the Moon blocks the path of light between the Sun and the observer, and when the Moon is close to the ecliptic. In a total solar eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured.

Sun Moon Size Coincidence
It is said that under RET it is an "extraordinary coincidence" that the maximum size of the Moon during a total solar eclipse matches the size of the Sun. From p.67 of A Question and Answer Guide to Astronomy by Astrophysicists Carol Christian (bio) and Jean-René Roy (bio):

Astrophysicist John Gribbin (bio) writes in Alone in the Universe: Why Our Planet is Unique:

See also:


 * Scientific American - The Solar Eclipse Coincidence - "It is an interesting coincidence that the Moon should so nearly perfectly blot out the Sun, since there is really no physical reason why this has be the case."

Solar Eclipse Path Comparison
It is of interest that on the globe the paths of the Solar Eclipse look rather odd:



Source (Archive)

On the Flat Earth map the paths appear to be symmetrical arcs:



From A Text-Book of Astronomy by George C. Comstock (p.113) (Archive)

Further Reference
Also see this interesting comparison:



Prediction
Prediction in astronomy is generally achieved through assessment of patterns. Astronomers use cycles to predict the recurrence of the eclipses.

See: Astronomical Prediction Based on Patterns - The Eclipses