Solar and luna eclipses

• Eclipse

  An astronomical phenomenon that happens when three celestial bodies line up, one of which is temporarily obscured by passing into the shadow of the body in the middle
• Solar eclipse

  Moon is between the Sun and the Earth
• Lunar eclipse

  Earth is between the Sun and the Moon
• Total solar eclipse

  Occurs when the Moon completely blocks the Sun
• Total lunar eclipse


  Produces the 'blood moon'
• The Moon revolves around the Earth in a plane that is tilted slightly to the Earth's orbit
• Eclipses happen when Earth, Moon and Sun are aligned just right
• New Moon

  When the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, its dark side faces us
• Full Moon

  When the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the Earth
• Celestial bodies cast shadows

  Like any opaque object lit by a light source
• Umbra


  The long conical shadow cast by a celestial body like the Earth or the Moon
• Penumbra


  An area of partial shadow surrounding the umbra
• Eclipse occurrence

  1. Celestial bodies pass through umbra

  2. Celestial bodies pass through penumbra
• During a solar eclipse, the Moon's shadow on Earth's surface consists of two parts: the umbra and the penumbra
• Total eclipse


  People in the umbra will see a total eclipse
• Partial eclipse

  People in the penumbra will see a partial eclipse
• Many problems of astronomy can be studied only during a total solar eclipse
• Partial lunar eclipse

  When the Moon passes through only part of the Earth's umbra
• Penumbral eclipse


  When the Moon only passes through the Earth's penumbra