Lunar Phases

and Eclipses
Created by the Lunar and Planetary Institute
For Educational Use Only
LPI is not responsible for the ways in which this powerpoint may be used or altered.

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/gallery/Earth_Mo

Preliminary Topics
Before students can understand the
reason for phases, they need to
understand:
The Moon orbits the Earth
Ecliptic plane

The Moon orbit at an angle with respect

to the Earths orbit around the Sun

Moons orbital
plane

The Moon doesnt shine on its own; it

reflects sunlight
The scale of the Moon and Earths sizes
and distance

Please go through Earth and Moon statistics

before trying to cover the reason for
phases or eclipses.

Phases:
New (couple
days)
Observing
and Identifying
Waxing Crescent (several
days)
1st Quarter
Waxing Gibbous (several
days)
Full
Waning Gibbous (several
days)
3rd Quarter
Waning Crescent (several
days)
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/moon_phases/about.shtml
New

Phases--Causes
The Sun shines on the Moon.
When the sunlight reflects off the Moons far
side, we call it a New Moon
When the sunlight reflects off on the Moons
near side, we call it a Full Moon
Between New and Full, we see parts of the
daytime side of the Moon.

Golfball and Blacklight Activity

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Please do NOT use this to teach phases;

use to test for comprehension

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http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question

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starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/phases.
html

Eclipses
The Sun and Moon occasionally
line up so that we have an eclipse.
These eclipses happen every
year
To see a solar eclipse, you need
to be on a particular part of the
Earth

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When the Earths shadow covers the Moon, we have a lunar
ec

Three types of Lunar Eclipses

Penumbral lunar eclipsethe Moon only passes
through the penumbra of Earths shadow
Partial lunar eclipsepart of the Moon passes
through the umbra of Earths shadow
Total lunar eclipsethe entire Moon passes
through the umbra of Earths shadow
Who on Earth will be able to see a lunar eclipse?
Anyone who can see the Moon (anyone who is
on the nighttime side of the Earth during the
eclipse)
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Images from Fred Espenak

http://www.mreclipse.com/LEphoto/LEgallery1/LEgallery1.html

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Why is the Moon red during an

eclipse?
The Earths atmosphere filters some sunlight
and allows it to reach the Moons surface
The blue light is removedscattered down to
make a blue sky over those in daytime
Remaining light is red or orange
Some of this remaining light is bent or
refracted so that a small fraction of it reaches
the Moon
Exact appearance depends on dust and clouds
in the Earths atmosphere

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Upcoming Lunar Eclipses

June 15, 2011, Total lunar eclipse (not visible in
US_
Dec 10, 2011, Total lunar eclipse (mostly not
visible in US)
June 4, 2012, Partial eclipse
Nov. 28, 2012, Penumbral eclipse
Apr. 25, 2013, Partial eclipse (not visible in US)
May 25, 2013, Penumbral eclipse
Oct. 18, 2013, Penumbral eclipse
Apr 15, 2014, TOTAL ECLIPSE visible here
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Solar Eclipses
When the Moons shadow covers part of the Earth
Only happens at New Moon
Three types: Annular, Partial, and Total

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Total Solar Eclipse

Observers in the umbra shadow see a total eclipse (safe to view the Sun);
can see the corona
Those in penumbra see a partial eclipsenot safe to look directly at Sun
Only lasts a few minutes
Path of Totality about 10,000 miles long, only 100 miles wide

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Photo of a Total Eclipse

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http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/multimedia/gal_00

Annular Solar Eclipse

When the Moon is too far to completely cover the Sunthe
umbra doesnt reach the Earth
Sun appears as a donut around the Moon

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Photos of an Annular Eclipse

http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/multimedia/gal_010.php; photos taken by Fred Espenak

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Upcoming Solar Eclipses

Nov. 25, 2011, partial solar eclipsenot visible
in USA
May 20, 2012 (annular)VISIBLE In USA
Nov. 13, 2012, total eclipsenot visible in USA
May 10, 2013, annular eclipsenot visible in
USA
Next Total Solar Eclipse in continental USA
August 21, 2017

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Tides
The Moons gravity tugs on the Earth.
It pulls the most on the part of Earth closest,
which raises the atmosphere, the oceans,
and even the rocks (a little)
It pulls the least on the part of Earth thats
farthest, which allows the oceans and
atmosphere to be further from the Moon
(and higher)
The Suns gravity does the same thing, but
to a lesser extent

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Tides and the Moon

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