Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am having a very hard time finding any information about this topic. I remember back in the 80's, in the second grade, there was a solar eclipse. I went to catholic school. The nuns pointed out that we have two shadows during the eclipse! I saw it for myself and assumed it was something everyone knew. (learning later most people do not know about it) I have always seen my double shadow during both lunar and solar eclipses, only full eclipses. This past full blood moon eclipse my daughter and I saw ourselves and trees and the mailbox had two shadows. But when the moon was fully covered, we had 4 shadows each! 2 of them were larger and faint and 2 were dark to normal looking. They were cast out around us and it was amazing to watch 4 of us moving around each! When I went inside to look up why we have more than one shadow, I was unable to find any information about this! Can you please explain why this happens and if it only happens during an eclipse and why this eclipse we saw 4 and not just 2 during part of it? Thank you.

Hi,

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A. Norman