The Moon

-Around the Earth and in the Sky

Our goals for learning:
Why do we see phases of the Moon?
When do we see the phases of the Moon?
What causes eclipses?

Why do we see phases of the Moon?

Lunar phases are
a consequence of
the Moons 27.3day orbit around
Earth

Phases of Moon
Half of Moon is lit
by the Sun and
half is dark
We see a different
amount of the
bright and dark
faces as Moon
orbits

Phases of the Moon: The View from Earth

new
crescent
first quarter
gibbous
full
gibbous
last quarter
crescent

A 29.5-day cycle

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waxing

Moon visible in afternoon/evening.

Gets fuller and rises later each day.

waning

Moon visible in late night/morning.

Gets less and sets later each day.

Moon Rise/Set by Phase

Thought Question
What phase of the Moon is this?
A.
B.
C.
D.

First quarter
Waxing crescent
Waxing gibbous
Third quarter

We see only one side of Moon

Synchronous rotation:
the Moon rotates exactly
once with each orbit
That is why only one side
is visible from Earth

Eclipses
Definition:
When light from an astronomical
body is blocked by another body
passing between it and the observer.

Any object can eclipse another

For example there are binary stars called eclipsing
binaries, because they are detected when the orbiting
star is eclipsed.

What causes eclipses?

The Astronomical bodies cast shadows.
When an object passes through anothers
shadow, there is an eclipse.

Most Common Types of Eclipse

Solar Eclipse
(Sun is blocked by
Moons shadow)
-occurs at New Moon

Lunar Eclipse
(Moon is blocked by
Earths shadow)
-occurs at Full Moon

Types of Eclipse
Partial - Sun or Moon is partly covered.
Total - Sun or Moon is completely covered over
and goes dark.
Annular - center of Sun is covered over, leaving
a ring of light.
Penumbral Eclipse - Moon is solely in the
penumbral shadow, only
mildly darkened.

Eclipses Every Month?

The Moons orbit is tilted 5 to ecliptic plane. Most alignments

occur above or below the ecliptic. As a result we do not get an
eclipse every month.

Eclipses Every Month?

View from Earth

When Do Eclipses Occur?

We have about two eclipse seasons each year, when
the Sun, Earth and Moon are in alignment and the
Moon is on the plane of the ecliptic.

When Do Eclipses Occur?

We then get a solar eclipse at new moon and a lunar
eclipse at full moon.

Solar Eclipses

Total Solar Eclipses

The Sun is 400 times
larger than the Moon.

The Moon is 400 times

closer than the Sun.

Consequently, they appear to be about the same angular size.

Solar Eclipses

Eye Protection Vital!

Total Solar Eclipse, 1999

Eye Safety
Sunlight can permanently burn out the
receptors in your eyes.
Retinas have no pain sensors, You won't
know until it's too late!
Eclipses are especially dangerous, since
people are deliberately looking at the Sun.

Eye Safety
Welder's Glass- excellent if expensive.
Telescopes with Sun filters -excellent, but need to
make sure it dies not get scratched.
Pin hole cameras -You do not look at the Sun (it's
cheap and works, but is not a cool-looking)
Mylar eclipse glasses - cheap but not recommended.
(They scratch far too easily, high risk of line blindness)

Total Solar Eclipse, Zambia 2001

Start of
Eclipse

Sun
partially
eclipsed

Second Contact: the

Beginning of Totality

Totality !

Zambia at Totality

Close-up of Edge during Totality

(Baileys Beads)

Diamond Ring : End of Totality

Composite of Entire Eclipse,

Zambia 2001

Annular Eclipses

Moon is further away, so its angular size is

slightly smaller than the Sun's angular size.

Annular Eclipse Sequence

Greenland, 2003

Partial Eclipse at Sunset,

WA, July 2000

Partial Eclipse at Sunset sequence,

WA, July 2000

Total Lunar Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse

Moon beginning to be eclipsed (partial)

Moon mostly eclipsed

Moon eclipsed by penumbra

Beginning of Totality

End of Totality

Moon still in penumbra

Moon coming out of shadow

Full Sequence of Total Lunar Eclipse

Predicting Eclipses
Eclipses recur with the 18 yr, 11 1/3 day
saros cycle, but type (e.g., partial, total)
and location may vary.

What have we learned?

Why do we see phases of the Moon?
Half the Moon is lit by the Sun; half is in
shadow, and its appearance to us is
determined by the relative positions of Sun,
Moon, and Earth during the Moon's orbit.
What causes eclipses?
Lunar eclipse: Earths shadow on the Moon
Solar eclipse: Moons shadow on Earth
Tilt of Moons orbit means eclipses occur
during two periods each year