1. Solar and Lunar Eclipses
All about shadows

2. What is an Eclipse?
An astronomical event that occurs when one celestial object (Earth or moon) moves into the shadow of another

3. 2 Types of Eclipses
1-Solar
2-Lunar

4. What is a Solar Eclipse? Sun’s light is blocked by the Moon
Moon’s shadow on Earth
Sun, Moon and Earth are in line

5. Moon’s Shadow on Earth
Solar Eclipse

8. A Solar eclipse occurs only during which phase of the moon? New Moon

9. What is a Lunar Eclipse? Sun’s light is blocked by the Earth
Earth’s shadow on Moon
Sun, Earth and Moon are in line

10. Earth’s Shadow on Moon Lunar Eclipse During a Lunar Eclipse
the Sun turns the Moon
blood red!

13. A Lunar eclipse occurs only during which phase of the moon? Full Moon

14. Why doesn’t a lunar eclipse occur every month during the full moon?

15. Moon Stats
Moon’s orbit around Earth is inclined about 5 degrees to Earth’s plane of orbit around the Sun
Ecliptic plane
Moon’s orbital plane
Moon
Earth
Sun
Moon’s orbit around the Earth is elliptical:
~0.15% out of circular.
Tilted by 5º from the Ecliptic.
Mean Distance: 384,400 km
Perigee (Closest Approach): 363,300 km
Apogee (Maximum Distance): 405,500 km
Appears ~11% larger at Perigee than at Apogee
Understanding this is fundamental to understanding why eclipses do not happen every month, or getting the reason for phases confused with eclipses.
Image created by LPI staff 15

16. Why doesn’t a lunar eclipse occur every month during the full moon
 Why doesn’t a lunar eclipse occur every month during the full moon? The moon’s orbit around the Earth is at a slight tilt compared to the Earth’s orbit around the sun. The Earth is not directly between the Sun and the moon during every Full Moon phase.

17. Why doesn’t a solar eclipse occur every month during the new moon?

18. Why doesn’t a solar eclipse occur every month during the new moon
Why doesn’t a solar eclipse occur every month during the new moon? The moon’s orbit around the Earth is at a slight tilt compared to the Earth’s orbit around the sun. The Moon is not directly between the Sun and the Earth during every New Moon phase.