Solar and Lunar Eclipses
All about shadows
What is an Eclipse?

An astronomical event that occurs when
one celestial object (Earth or moon)
moves into the shadow of another
2 Types of Eclipses


1-Solar
2-Lunar
What is a Solar Eclipse?



Sun’s light is blocked by the Moon
Moon’s shadow on Earth
Sun, Moon and Earth are in line
Moon’s Shadow on Earth

Solar Eclipse

68) A Solar eclipse occurs only during
which phase of the moon? New Moon
What is a Lunar Eclipse?



Sun’s light is blocked by the Earth
Earth’s shadow on Moon
Sun, Earth and Moon are in line
Earth’s Shadow on Moon
Lunar Eclipse
 During a Lunar Eclipse
the Sun turns the Moon
blood red!


69) A Lunar eclipse occurs only during
which phase of the moon? Full Moon
Why doesn’t a lunar
eclipse occur every
month during the full
moon?
Moon Stats
Moon’s orbit around Earth is inclined
about 5 degrees to Earth’s plane
of orbit around the Sun
Ecliptic plane
Moon’s orbital plane
Sun
Earth
Moon
Image created by LPI staff

70) Why doesn’t a lunar eclipse occur
every month during the full moon? The
moon’s orbit around the Earth is at a slight
tilt compared to the Earth’s orbit around
the sun. The Earth is not directly between
the Sun and the moon during every Full
Moon phase.
Why doesn’t a solar
eclipse occur every
month during the new
moon?

71) Why doesn’t a solar eclipse occur
every month during the new moon? The
moon’s orbit around the Earth is at a slight
tilt compared to the Earth’s orbit around
the sun. The Moon is not directly
between the Sun and the Earth during
every New Moon phase.