Solar Eclipses

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Solar Eclipses
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And Lunar Eclipses
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A lunar eclipse occurs when the earths shadow
falls on the moon. If the moon is completely
within the earths shadow it is called A lunar
eclipse.

• The 2 conditions needed for a lunar eclipse are
• Full moon
• Moon crossing ecliptic (earths orbit plane)

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Moon almost totally eclipsed
The red color is from light bent onto the moon by
earths atmosphere. Red light waves bend more
than the others
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A solar eclipse occurs when the moons shadow
falls on the earth
Sometimes the moons shadow does not reach the
earth and a different kind of solar eclipse
occurs called an annular eclipse
What could cause the moons shadow to sometimes
not reach the earth?
Yes, if the moons distance from the earth is too
great, the shadow will not reach the surface.
Remember the moon orbits the earth In an ellipse.
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(notice the moon does not completely cover the
sun)
Beautiful annular eclipse in Tahiti
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Annular eclipse in upstate NY in 1994
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The dark inner part of the moons shadow is
called the umbra

• Conditions needed for a total solar eclipse are
• Moon in new phase
• Moon crossing ecliptic (earths orbit plane)
• Moon at near point in its orbit (perigee)

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As the earth rotates the small circle of totality
makes a path across the earths surface. The
maximum time the eclipse can last at any
location is about 7 minutes.
Notice how small the actual area on earth is that
is eclipsed (only 150 miles In diameter maximum),
where as the entire moon fit inside the
earths umbral shadow
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Diamond ring effect just Before totality
Totally eclipsed Moon with corona showing
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Total solar eclipse, notice the structure in the
corona due to the suns Magnetic field
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Solar prominence (storms) can be seen during the
period of totality
corona
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A partial solar eclipse always precedes a total
solar eclipse as shown here. Slowly the entire
disk of the sun becomes blocked.