In each phase of the Moon, how much of the Moon is lit up by the Sun?

Half the Moon is alwayslit by the Sun

Except . . .

When the Earth’s shadow hits the Moon we have a …….

Lunar Eclipse

Eclipses

Solar Eclipse—the moon moves in a line directly between the Earth and sun

Lunar Eclipse---the moon moves into the Earth’s shadow

Eclipses

• A solar eclipse can only happen at new Moon, when the lunar disk passes directly between us and the Sun.

• A lunar eclipse occurs during full Moon, when our satellite passes through Earth's shadow.

• These alignments don't occur at every new and full Moon because the lunar orbit is tipped about 5° to Earth's orbital plane — only occasionally do the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up exactly enough for an eclipse to occur.

http://sunearthday.gsfc.nasa.gov/2008eclipse/mechanics.php

Lunar Eclipse• When Earth blocks most of the sunlight from

illuminating the Moons surface for several hours when in the full moon phase

Remember that when the shadow falls on Earth it is a SOLAR ECLIPSE (always at NEW Moon) & when the shadow falls on the Moon it is a LUNAR

ECLIPSE (always at FULL Moon).

Lunar Eclipses

Lunar Eclipses• Why is the Moon Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?

During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. Astronauts on the Moon would then see the Earth completely eclipse the Sun. (They would see a bright red ring around the Earth as they watched all the sunrises and sunsets happening simultaneousely around the world!) While the Moon remains completely within Earth's umbral shadow, indirect sunlight still manages to reach and illuminate it. However, this sunlight must first pass deep through the Earth's atmosphere which filters out most of the blue colored light. The remaining light is a deep red or orange in color and is much dimmer than pure white sunlight. Earth's atmosphere also bends or refracts some of this light so that a small fraction of it can reach and illuminate the Moon.

Blood Moon

• What is a lunar tetrad? Astronomers are talking about the lunar tetrad of 2014-2015. What is a tetrad? It’s four successive total lunar eclipses, with no partial lunar eclipses in between, each of which is separated from the other by six lunar months (six full moons). Current media is referring these as Blood moons - the term originally was used for Lunar eclipses that occur during passover.

When the Moon’s shadow hits the Earth, we have a ….

Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipses

Solar Eclipse

Annular Eclipse

Partial Eclipse

Total Eclipse

Which positions cause which eclipses• When the ______ is in the _____ phase and is

directly in line with the _____ and the ____ , you get a ______ eclipse?

• When the ______ is in the _____ phase and is directly in line with the _____ and the ____ , you get a ______ eclipse?

Moon full

Earth Sun

Moon

Earth Sun

new

lunar

solar

Important Moon dates (North America) and Eclipses

• 2015:Autumn Equinox: September 23Harvest Moon: September 28Hunter’s (Blood) Moon: October 27

Eclipses• Total Solar March 20 –not visible here• Partial lunar April 4• Total Lunar September 28 (maybe visible here)• August 21 2017 next visible Total Solar eclipse here

Eclipses lab

• Follow the directions on the lab sheet. We will need to have lights off again to see our eclipses.