Lesson 5 of 19
Earth shades the Moon
Show on a big screenNow put Earth between the Sun and the Moon. What happens to the Moon?
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The idea
Step 1 of 4
- Full Moon is when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. They are nearly in a row.
- Earth's shadow stretches out behind it.
- The shadow falls on the Moon and can cover it whole.
- Earth is more than three times as wide as the Moon.
The rule
Earth's shadow falls on the Moon and darkens it.
In a lunar eclipse Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. Earth shades the Moon.
- The Moon fully in the shadow is a total lunar eclipse. It often looks dark red.
- The Moon partly in the shadow is a partial lunar eclipse.
| Moon in the middle | Earth in the middle | |
|---|---|---|
| We call it | A solar eclipse | A lunar eclipse |
| Moon's place on its trip | New Moon | Full Moon |
| Shadow lands on | A small patch of Earth | Part or all of the Moon |
| Safe to look at | Never directly | Yes, with your eyes alone |
A lunar eclipse can be seen from a large part of Earth.
Try the lab to finish this lesson.