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PHASES OF THE MOON & ECLIPSES. PHASES OF THE MOON. The lunar cycle is approximately 29.5 days in length. The appearance of the Moon during the different phases is a result of the position of the Earth and the Moon with respect to the Sun. The Appearance of the Moon.
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PHASES OF THE MOON • The lunar cycle is approximately 29.5 days in length. • The appearance of the Moon during the different phases is a result of the position of the Earth and the Moon with respect to the Sun.
The Appearance of the Moon • When the Sun and Moon are aligned on the same side of the Earth, the Moon is “NEW", and is not illuminated by the Sun • When the Moon is getting fuller (progressing from new to full) it is WAXING
The Appearance of the Moon • When the Sun and the Moon are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth, the moon is “FULL” and one side is fully illuminated by the Sun • When the Moon is shrinking (progressing from full to new) it is WANING
LUNAR ECLIPSES • A Lunar Eclipse occurs whenever the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth’s shadow. • This can only occur when the Earth, the Moon and the Sun are aligned with the Earth in the middle. • Therefore, the Moon is always Full during a lunar eclipse.
LUNAR ECLIPSES • Why is it that there is not a lunar eclipse every month? • The orbital plane of the moon is about 5 higher than the orbital plane of the Earth. • During most months, the Moon is either north or south of the Earth during the full Moon.
LUNAR ECLIPSES • The Earth’s shadow has two parts: • The UMBRA (no direct solar radiation) • The PENUMBRA (solar radiation is partially blocked) • Depending on the location of the moon, different types of eclipses may be seen.
LUNAR ECLIPSES • Partial Penumbral Eclipse • Occurs when the Moon passes into the penumbra • No distinct changes are seen, but the moon may appear more yellow • Total Penumbral Eclipse • Very rare; Occurs when the Moon passes fully into the penumbra
LUNAR ECLIPSES • Partial Lunar Eclipse • Occurs when only a portion of the visible Moon enters the Earth’s umbra • Total Lunar Eclipse • Occurs when the Moon is fully obscured for a period of time by the Earth’s umbra • The length of the eclipse may vary depending on the proximity of the Moon to its APOGEE (farthest distance from Earth)
SOLAR ECLIPSES • A Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun. • This only occurs during the New Moon phase of the Lunar Cycle, when the Sun and the Moon are aligned on the same side of the Earth.
SOLAR ECLIPSES • TOTAL ECLIPSE • Very rare • The Sun is totally obscured by the Moon • The CORONA is visible during this time • Only visible from a specific location on the Earth
SOLAR ECLIPSES • ANNULAR ECLIPSE • The Sun and Moon are directly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than the Sun, leaving a ring, or ANNULUS.
SOLAR ECLIPSES • HYBRID ECLIPSE • Intermediate between a Total and Annular eclipse • Rather rare • PARTIAL ECLIPSE • The Moon and Sun are not completely in line • Can usually be seen from many places on Earth when a specific place is seeing an Annular or Total eclipse
OTHER LUNE-Y STUFF • BLUE MOON • The trendy definition is not true! A Blue Moon is NOT the second full Moon in a month! • It has historically been determined as the 13th full Moon of a year (there are normally 12 full moons) • There have been instances of the Moon actually turning blue (when a volcano in Indonesia erupted).
OTHER LUNE-Y STUFF • HARVEST MOON • The Full Moon that occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox. • It is a myth that it appears with a red, orange or yellowish tinge. • Any moon or constellation lower on the horizon appears to have a reddish tinge because the light coming from it is traveling through more atmosphere. • It is also thought that a harvest moon is larger in the sky… • But any full moon seen closer to the horizon appears larger than a moon higher in the sky (called a Moon Illusion)
OTHER LUNE-Y STUFF • THE MAN IN THE MOON • The "Man in the Moon" is a figure resembling a human face. • The figure is composed of large dark areas (the lunar maria, or seas) on the Moon's surface. • The figure's eyes are the Mare Imbrium and Mare Serenitatis, its nose is the Sinus Aestuum, and its open mouth is the Mare Nubium and Mare Cognitum.
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