1. Eclipses

2. Solar Eclipses The Sun is vanishing! The Sun is going out! The daylight is retreating! Bad Omens All! The Gods are MAD!

3. A view from the past… “Zeus, the father of the Olympic Gods, turned mid-day into night, hiding the light of the dazzling Sun; and sore fear came upon men.” Archilochus (c680-c640 BC)

4. The Modern View The answer lies hidden among the shadows. Earth Moon

5. Shadow Structure Penumbra Umbra

6. South Pole North Pole Solar Eclipse Details Sun Moon What is the phase of the moon? New Moon!

7. Total Solar Eclipse

15. Why not a solar eclipse every month then? Sun Ecliptic Moon Moon’s Orbit Earth 5o5o Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 o with respect to the Earth's orbit (ecliptic), so the shadows usually miss!

16.  But, the Moon passes through the ecliptic twice a month.  *IF* at new moon - SOLAR ECLIPSE probability.

17. A Lunar Eclipse Moon Sun Earth Moon’s Path A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth lies between the Sun and Moon, so that Earth's shadow darkens the Moon.

19. This image shows a complete transition during a lunar eclipse. Notice that the phase of the moon is “full.”

22. The moon becomes a blood red color during a total lunar eclipse. No wonder that ancient cultures feared the appearance of the moon during a lunar eclipse.