What are the two types of eclipses we can see from earth?
Solar and Lunar
When do Lunar eclipses occur?
When the moon is directly in the earth’s shadow.
What moon phase does a Lunar eclipses occur in?
Only during the full moon phase, since this is the only phase where the earth is in between the sun and the moon.
What happens to the moon during a Lunar eclipse?
The full moon seems to disappear and then reappear red, in just a few hours.
If the earth is blocking the sun during a Lunar eclipse, why can we still see the moon?
Some of the sun’s light bends around the earth. The light is REFRACTED by the earth’s atmosphere.
Why does the moon look red during a Lunar eclipse?
The refracted light is red/orange in color making the moon look red.
What is the Umbra during a Lunar eclipse?
The darkest, innermost part of the shadow; light is completely blocked.
What is the Penumbra during a Lunar eclipse?
The lighter part of the shadow; light is not completely blocked, partial shadow
What are the two TYPES of Lunar eclipses?
Partial and Total
What is a PARTIAL Lunar eclipse?
When some direct sunlight still reaches the moon.
What is a TOTAL Lunar eclipse?
When no direct sunlight reaches the moon, only the refracted light.
How often do Lunar eclipses happen each year?
2 to 4 times
Why do Lunar eclipses not happen during every full moon?
This means the sun, earth and moon don’t line up perfectly to cause a lunar eclipse every month.
Because the moon’s orbit around the earth is TILTED about 5 degrees compared to the earth’s orbit around the sun.
How does a Solar eclipse occur? During what moon phase?
When the moon casts a shadow on part of the earth during the NEW MOON phase.
Does a Solar eclipse block sunlight for the whole earth?
No, since the moon is smaller than the earth. The moon’s shadow will only cover part of the earth.
What are the two types of Solar eclipses?
Partial and Total
What is happening when someone sees a Total Solar eclipse? Where are they standing?
They are standing in the UMBRA (darkest shadow).
What is happening when someone sees a Partial Solar eclipse? Where are they standing?
They are standing in the PENUMBRA (partial shadow)
The partial eclipse looks like someone took a bite out of the sun.
What part of the sun can you see during a Total Solar eclipse?
The sun’s corona (it’s outer atmosphere)
What is the path of totality during a Solar eclipse?
A small strip on earth where the full shadow is since the umbra is very small.
Why do we not get a Solar eclipse every month?
Because of the tilt of the moon’s orbit.
How many times does the moon cast a shadow (penumbra) on the earth each year?205
2-5 times a year.
Most months the moon’s shadow misses the earth completely.
How often do Total Solar eclipses happen?
Every 300 to 400 years.
It is very rare for the umbra to be cast on the earth.
When is the next Total Solar eclipse going to happen in the US?
August 23, 2044
