Lunar Eclipse
Infographic Project
What is a Lunar Eclipse?
A lunar eclipse is when the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned exactly, or very closely, with the Earth in the middle. The Earths blocks the sun's rays from reaching the moon and soon the moon falls into the Earth's shadows, the umbra (darker shadow) and the penumbra (wider, lighter shadow stretching out the sides).
A lunar eclipse can be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth, with no eye protection needed, and it lasts for a few hours. They normally happen every 2-5 years.
A lunar eclipse can be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth, with no eye protection needed, and it lasts for a few hours. They normally happen every 2-5 years.
Types Of Eclipses:
Penumbral Eclipse
A penumbral eclipse is more difficult to observe than a total or partial eclipse. It happens when the moon moves through the outer part of Earth’s shadow.
Total Penumbral Eclipse
A total penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon becomes completely immersed in the penumbral cone of the Earth without touching the umbra.
Partial Lunar Eclipse
Partial lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes through the Earth's penumbral shadow. They can be seen by the naked eye.
Total Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse is when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's umbra. The moon doesn't completely disappear because the little light from the ring of sun that the Earth doesn't cover refracts on the moon, giving it a little glow.
Blood Moons
A lunar tetrad, or a "Blood Moon" is four successive total lunar eclipses in a row, with no partial lunar eclipses in between.
The red moon is possible because while the moon is in total shadow, some light from the sun passes through Earth's atmosphere and is bent toward the moon. While other colors in the spectrum are blocked and scattered by Earth’s atmosphere, red light tends to make it through easier, making the moon blood-red.
The red moon is possible because while the moon is in total shadow, some light from the sun passes through Earth's atmosphere and is bent toward the moon. While other colors in the spectrum are blocked and scattered by Earth’s atmosphere, red light tends to make it through easier, making the moon blood-red.
Lunar Eclipse In Mythology
The Inca feared that a lunar eclipse was caused by a jaguar attacking the moon. They'd try to drive it away by making noise, including beating their dogs to make them howl and bark.