Directions: As you read Eclipses, answer the following questions.
Name three reasons people created to explain eclipses before we knew
what the actual reasons were.
1. An invisible dragon eats the sun.
2. Poisons drop from the sky.
3. It is a sign that he world is coming to an end.
Solar Eclipse
 A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is directly between the Earth
and the Sun .
 In order to have a solar eclipse the moon’s shadow must fall
directly on Earth.
 Define Umbra: Darkest part of the Moon’s shadow
 Define Penumbra: Lighter part of the Moon’s shadow
 Where do you need to be standing in order to see a total solar
eclipse?
You must be standing in the Moon’s umbra
Annular Eclipse
 What is an annular eclipse?
Most of the sun is covered and light surrounds the outside of the
moon
 An annular eclipse is created because the moon’s orbit is an ellipse.
When the moon is farther away it cannot completely cover the
sun.
Lunar Eclipse
 In a Lunar eclipse the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon
 We have a total lunar eclipse when the full moon falls in within the
Earth’s shadow.
 Depending on the amount of dust and clouds the moon may look
dark brown, red, orange, or yellow.
 When the moon passes through only part of the Earth’s shadow or
umbra it causes a partial lunar eclipse