| Revision as of 00:24, 3 November 2002 view sourceLir (talk | contribs)10,238 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:40, 3 November 2002 view source Lir (talk | contribs)10,238 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| From Earth, a '''lunar eclipse''' occurs when ], ] and ] are in a single line with Earth in the middle. If this occurs, the Moon (or part of it) does not receive light from the Sun because it is in the shadow of the Earth, and thus the Moon becomes invisible even though there would normally have been a ]. | From Earth, a '''lunar eclipse''' occurs when ], ] and ] are in a single line with Earth in the middle. If this occurs, the Moon (or part of it) does not receive light from the Sun because it is in the shadow of the Earth, and thus the Moon becomes invisible even though there would normally have been a ]. Most of the ] that passes through the Earth's atmosphere is '''red''', and thus an eclipsed Moon will glow in reddish hues. | ||
| A '''penumbral eclipse''' occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's ] only. In such a case the Moon still looks full but appears dimmer. A '''total lunar eclipse''' occurs when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's ]. If only part of the Moon enters then umbra, then there is a '''partial lunar eclipse'''. | |||
| Lunar eclipses are only possible when there is '''full moon'''. The Moon is usually above or below the ecliptic, however when it does align, with the ecliptic, an eclipse may occur! | Lunar eclipses are only possible when there is '''full moon'''. The Moon is usually above or below the ecliptic, however when it does align, with the ecliptic, an eclipse may occur! | ||
| If you were on the Moon during a lunar eclipse you would witness a ]. | |||
Revision as of 00:40, 3 November 2002
From Earth, a lunar eclipse occurs when Sun, Earth and Moon are in a single line with Earth in the middle. If this occurs, the Moon (or part of it) does not receive light from the Sun because it is in the shadow of the Earth, and thus the Moon becomes invisible even though there would normally have been a full moon. Most of the light that passes through the Earth's atmosphere is red, and thus an eclipsed Moon will glow in reddish hues.
A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's penumbra only. In such a case the Moon still looks full but appears dimmer. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's umbra. If only part of the Moon enters then umbra, then there is a partial lunar eclipse.
Lunar eclipses are only possible when there is full moon. The Moon is usually above or below the ecliptic, however when it does align, with the ecliptic, an eclipse may occur!
If you were on the Moon during a lunar eclipse you would witness a solar eclipse.