Solar and Lunar Eclipses
What is an eclipse?
• An eclipse occurs any time something passes
in front of the Sun, blocking its light. This can
be the Earth or the Moon.
Is there more than 1 kind of eclipse?
• There are two types of eclipse, lunar and
solar eclipses.
Lunar Eclipses
• The Earth moves between the Sun and the
Moon and cast a shadow on the moon,
blocking the Sun’s light, and causing the moon
to glow red. This happens when the moon is a
full moon.
• Solar Eclipse- When
the Moon casts a
shadow on the
Earth, causing the
sun to go dark.
The shadow is only
on part of the
earth.
• This happens only
when the moon is a
New Moon
Solar Eclipse
How often do Eclipses Happen?
• That depends!! Lunar Eclipses happen more
often than Solar Eclipses.
• Why? Well everyone who is experiencing
nighttime during a lunar eclipse can see it.
• But you have to be at the exact spot on Earth
to see a Solar Eclipse.
• The spot on Earth is so small, that the same
place only sees a Solar Eclipse every 350
years!!
Upcoming Lunar Eclipses
• June 15, 2011, Total lunar eclipse (not visible in
US_
• Dec 10, 2011, Total lunar eclipse (mostly not
visible in US)
• June 4, 2012, Partial eclipse
• Nov. 28, 2012, Penumbral eclipse
• Apr. 25, 2013, Partial eclipse (not visible in US)
• May 25, 2013, Penumbral eclipse
• Oct. 18, 2013, Penumbral eclipse
• Apr 15, 2014, TOTAL ECLIPSE –visible here
7
Upcoming Solar Eclipses
• Nov. 25, 2011, partial solar eclipse—not visible in
USA
• May 20, 2012 (annular)—VISIBLE In USA
• Nov. 13, 2012, total eclipse—not visible in USA
• May 10, 2013, annular eclipse—not visible in USA
• Next Total Solar Eclipse in continental USA—
August 21, 2017
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Why Don’t We See
Eclipses More Often?
• Well, lunar eclipses don’t happen everyday
because the Moon’s orbit is tilted. So, during
most months, the Moon is above or below the
Earth.
What’s the
difference between
solar and lunar eclipses?
Earth goes moon goes
into moon’s into Earth’s
shadow
shadow
Poster
• Like before there will be three sections
• 1. Using a Sun, Earth, and Moon draw the
phases of the moon in a correct order and
labeled.
• Using a Sun, Earth, and Moon