The Moon

Lunar and SolarEclipses

An eclipse is the blocking out of sunlight or moonlight as one celestial body passes in front of another.Example: When the Sun, Moon, and Earth align with each other and cover up sunlight or moonlight.

What is an Eclipse?

There are two types:Solar EclipsesLunar Eclipses

The plane of the Moons orbit is tilted approximately 5 degrees in reference to the Sun.This means that the moon is either above or below the Sun-Earth orbit.

The Earth-Moon Orbit

The moon will cross over the Sun-Earth orbit twice (these locations are referred to as Nodes).Only twice a month is it possible for the sun, moon, and Earth to align in the correct way for an eclipse to occur.

The Earth-Moon Orbit

When the moon crosses either an ascending or descending node, it must be in either a full or new moon for an eclipse to be possible.

NEEDED INGREDIENTS: Moon on orbital node.Moon at either Full or New Moon.

The Earth-Moon Orbit