The movements of the Earth, moon, and sun affect how moon appears from the Earth. Occasionally, the Earth or moon may block the sun’s light. This produce what we call ECLIPSES IPLSEECS A shadow is made up of a dark, small inner shadow called umbra and a lighter, large outer shadow called penumbra.

ECLIPSES

PERIGEE The point of the moon’s orbit closest to the Earth. (350 000 km away) APOGEE The point of the moon’s orbit farthest from Earth. (400 000 km away) ALBEDO – characteristic wherein the moon does not give off its own light, it only reflects light from the sun.

PHASES OF THE MOON

Lunar Eclipses The Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the Sun’s light, and causing the moon to glow red. Occurs during full moon.

Types of Lunar Eclipses Total Lunar Eclipse Partial Lunar Eclipse Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE – when the Moon passes completely into the Umbra, or total shadow of the Earth.

The Total Lunar Eclipse of Dec. 21, 2010 was widely seen from the USA.

PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE – Occur when the Moon does not fully move into the Umbra

partial lunar eclipse - india

PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSE – When the moon passes only through the penumbra, or partial shadow. They are barely visible.

Penumbral lunar eclipse - india

SOLAR ECLIPSE Occurs when the Moon travels between the Sun and the Earth and comes directly between the two during day. Occurs during New Moon.

Types of Solar Eclipses Total Solar Eclipse Partial Solar Eclipse Annular Solar Eclipse

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – can only occur if you are at the exact spot within the moon’s umbra (which isn’t very big).

Total solar eclipse as viewed from Australia

PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – Visible if you are in the penumbra of the shadow. Only some of the moon will be shadowed.

Partial solar eclipse, about 10-20%

ANNULAR ECLIPSE – occurs when the moon and the sun are exactly in the same line but the moon is farthest from the Earth in its orbit. This makes the moon look smaller, so during the eclipse you see an outer ring of light from the Sun.

Annular phase of solar eclipse May 10 2013, Australia

What part of the Sun is visible around the edges of the moon? CORONA Also, are seeing the dark side of the moon.

The DIAMOND RING EFFECT is a visual phenomenon that occurs during a TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE. It is seen from earth when standing in the umbra of the moon’s shadow, and occurs as a part of Baily’s Beads. Baily’s Beads are glimmers of the sun’s brilliant surface which shine as dots of light around the disc of the lunar shadow. When only one “bead” remains, momentarily