|
Sometimes, as the Earth orbits the Sun, it comes between the Sun and the
Moon. When this happens, the Earth throws a dark shadow across the Moon.
This is known as an eclipse of the Moon, or a lunar eclipse.
|
Sometimes, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon blocks
the light of the Sun and a shadow of the Moon is cast on the Earth's
surface. This is an eclipse of the Sun, or a solar eclipse.
|
|
A total solar eclipse can only occur when two events happen at the same time. The first event is a new Moon. This phase of the Moon occurs when the Sun is almost directly behind the Moon, and we see only a sliver of the Sun's light reflected by the Moon. During this time the Moon and the Sun appear close together. The second event that must occur is that the Moon must be in the right position, directly in the line of sight between the Earth and the Sun. These two events occur at the same time about once every year and a half. A total solar eclipse will be visible from Europe and Asia on 11 August 1999.
Help me understand how the Sun and Moon can appear to be the same sizeHelp me understand why eclipses happen
Show me what I'd see in a total solar eclipse
The StarChild site is a service of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), Dr. Alan Smale (Director), within the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA/ GSFC.
StarChild Authors: The StarChild Team
StarChild Graphics & Music: Acknowledgments
StarChild Project Leader: Dr. Laura A.
Whitlock
Curator:
Responsible NASA Official:
If you have comments or questions about the StarChild site, please
send them to us.