1. SWBAT: explain the causes of solar and lunar eclipses
Solar Eclipse
SWBAT: explain the causes of solar and lunar eclipses

2. Eclipses
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3. Eclipse The formal definition of an eclipse is…
The partial or complete obscuring, relative to a designated observer, of one celestial body by another.
What does this actually mean??
In simpler terms this means that an eclipse is caused when a shadow is cast by one celestial body blocking the sun from another.

4. There are two different types of eclipses:
Eclipse Types
There are two different types of eclipses:
Lunar (moon goes dark at night)
Solar (sun goes dark during day)
Each year we have on average 2 of each eclipses
Show eclipse calculator

5. Lunar Eclipse A lunar eclipse is caused by…
The Earth being directly between the Sun and the Moon.
This means that the Earth’s shadow is cast on the moon causing it to be darkened.
Because the Earth is so much larger than the Moon the shadow covers the entire surface of the moon

6. Lunar Eclipse Diagram

7. Solar Eclipse A solar eclipse is caused by…
The Moon being directly between the Sun and the Earth
This means the Moon’s shadow is cast on to the Earth’s surface.
Since the Moon is so much smaller than the Earth the shadow that is cast only covers a small part of the Earth’s surface- meaning only a few people actually see the sun go dark during the day
This is why people tend to believe that solar eclipses are less common than lunar eclipses
For the next 10 years there is actually 1 more solar eclipse than lunar.
Show solar eclipse BBC videos

8. Solar Eclipse Diagram