Eclipse

One way the Moon affects the Earth

Eclipse

• As the Moon and the Earth are moving through space, they sometimes block each other from the Sun’s light.

• When this happens, we see an eclipse.

Types of Eclipses

• Solar eclipse- When the Moon blocks the Sun’s light from reaching the Earth.

Types of Eclipses

• Lunar eclipse- When the Earth blocks the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon.

Parts of a Solar Eclipse

Parts of a Lunar Eclipse

The parts of a shadow

• Umbra- the part of the shadow that is a total blockage of the light.

• Penumbra- the part of a shadow that is a partial blockage of the light.

Eclipses

Eclipses

Eclipses

The Mysterious Eclipse

• Solar eclipses are dramatic events. When one occurs, the Moon’s shadow makes it feel like night is falling. Birds stop singing and return to their nests, bees and insects stop flying, and the temperature drops. Even the stars become visible in the darkness.

Eclipse explanations

• Ancient civilizations made up myths to explain why eclipses happened. The Chinese believed eclipses were caused by a giant dragon swallowing the Sun. They made as much noise as possible to frighten the dragon when they saw a solar eclipse.

What myth could explain these?