Look, Look, Mommy! Mommy!

Someone ate Someone ate the moon!the moon!

The science The science behind moon behind moon phases and phases and

eclipseeclipse

Moon PhasesMoon Phases

It takes the moon about 28 days to orbit It takes the moon about 28 days to orbit the Earth.the Earth.

During that time, the During that time, the moonmoon appears to appears to change shape from one day to the next. change shape from one day to the next.

These shapes are known as the These shapes are known as the phasesphases of the of the moonmoon. .

Of course, the Of course, the moonmoon doesn’t really doesn’t really change shape; it only appears to changechange shape; it only appears to change

The moon appears to grow from right to left.

Each phase has a name.

The sun’s light is shown coming from the right.

The Earth is in the middle of the diagram.

The dotted line from the earth to the moon represents your line of sight when looking at the

moon.

Notice that one half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun.

At certain times we see both the sunlit portion and the shadowed portion -- and that creates the various moon

phase shapes we are all familiar with. Also note that the shadowed part of the moon is invisible to the

naked eye.

The moon is shown at 8 key stages during its rotation around the earth.

Lunar phases are created Lunar phases are created by changing angles by changing angles

(relative positions) of the (relative positions) of the Earth, the moon and the Earth, the moon and the sun, as the moon orbits sun, as the moon orbits

the earth. the earth.

New MoonNew Moon

The The new moonnew moon occurs when the moon is occurs when the moon is positioned positioned betweenbetween the earth and sun. the earth and sun.

The three objects are in approximate The three objects are in approximate alignment alignment

The entire illuminated portion of the moon is The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on the back side of the moon, the half that we on the back side of the moon, the half that we cannot see.cannot see.

Waxing CrescentWaxing Crescent

After the new moon, the sunlit portion is After the new moon, the sunlit portion is increasing, but less than half, so it is increasing, but less than half, so it is

waxing crescentwaxing crescent. .

First Quarter MoonFirst Quarter Moon The The first quarter moonfirst quarter moon

happens when the moon is happens when the moon is at a 90 degree angle with at a 90 degree angle with respect to the earth and respect to the earth and sun. sun.

So we are seeing exactly So we are seeing exactly half of the moon illuminated half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow. and half in shadow.

It is called the “It is called the “first first quarterquarter” because the moon ” because the moon is one quarter of the way is one quarter of the way around its orbit of the Earth.around its orbit of the Earth.

Waxing GibbousWaxing Gibbous

After the first quarter, the sunlit portion is After the first quarter, the sunlit portion is still increasing, but now it is still increasing, but now it is moremore than than

half, half,

so it is so it is waxing gibbouswaxing gibbous. .

Full MoonFull Moon

At a At a full moonfull moon, the earth, moon, and sun are in , the earth, moon, and sun are in approximate alignmentapproximate alignment

Just like the new moon, but the moon is on the opposite Just like the new moon, but the moon is on the opposite side of the earthside of the earth

The entire sunlit part of the moon is facing us.The entire sunlit part of the moon is facing us. The shadowed portion is entirely hidden from view. The shadowed portion is entirely hidden from view.

The Full Moon is Beautiful!The Full Moon is Beautiful!

Native American Names for Native American Names for Full MoonsFull Moons

JanuaryJanuary - Wolf Moon - Wolf Moon FebruaryFebruary - Snow - Snow

MoonMoon MarchMarch - Sap Moon - Sap Moon AprilApril - Grass Moon - Grass Moon MayMay - Flower Moon - Flower Moon JuneJune - Strawberry - Strawberry

MoonMoon

JulyJuly - Thunder Moon - Thunder Moon AugustAugust - Corn Moon - Corn Moon SeptemberSeptember – Harvest – Harvest

MoonMoon OctoberOctober - Hunter's - Hunter's

MoonMoon NovemberNovember - Frost Moon - Frost Moon DecemberDecember - Long Night - Long Night

MoonMoon

Waning GibbousWaning Gibbous

After the full moon (maximum After the full moon (maximum illumination), the light continually illumination), the light continually decreases. decreases.

The The waning gibbouswaning gibbous phase occurs next. phase occurs next.

Third Quarter MoonThird Quarter Moon The The third quarterthird quarter moon moon

happens when the moon is at a happens when the moon is at a 90 degree angle with respect to 90 degree angle with respect to the earth and sun.the earth and sun.

We are seeing exactly half of We are seeing exactly half of the moon illuminated and half in the moon illuminated and half in shadow. shadow.

It is called the It is called the “third” “third” oror “last” “last” quarter quarter moon because the moon because the moon is three quarters of the moon is three quarters of the way around its orbit of the way around its orbit of the Earth. It has only one quarter Earth. It has only one quarter left to go.left to go.

Waning CrescentWaning Crescent

Following the third quarter is the Following the third quarter is the waning waning crescentcrescent, which wanes until the light is , which wanes until the light is completely gone. completely gone.

New MoonNew Moon

The moon has made a complete orbit around the The moon has made a complete orbit around the Earth. Earth.

It is now positioned It is now positioned betweenbetween the earth and sun. the earth and sun. The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on

the back side of the moon, the half that we the back side of the moon, the half that we cannot see. cannot see.

This whole cycle takes approximately 28 days.This whole cycle takes approximately 28 days.

ReviewReview

Moon FolkloreMoon Folklore In a new moon falls on a Saturday, it was said In a new moon falls on a Saturday, it was said

that there would be 20 days of wind and rain.that there would be 20 days of wind and rain. Some farmers believe that crops planted near Some farmers believe that crops planted near

a full moon will be better than those planted a full moon will be better than those planted during a waxing moon.during a waxing moon.

Wood cut during the new moon is hard to Wood cut during the new moon is hard to split.split.

A person born during a full moon will have a A person born during a full moon will have a lucky life.lucky life.

A waning moon is an unlucky time to get A waning moon is an unlucky time to get married.married.

EclipseEclipse

Have you ever wondered why, at a Have you ever wondered why, at a new moon, the moon doesn't block new moon, the moon doesn't block the sun, and at a full moon, why the the sun, and at a full moon, why the earth doesn't block sunlight from earth doesn't block sunlight from reaching the moon?reaching the moon?

The reason is because the moon's The reason is because the moon's orbit about the earth is about 5 orbit about the earth is about 5 degrees off from the earth-sun degrees off from the earth-sun orbital plane. orbital plane.

EclipseEclipse

At special times during the year, the At special times during the year, the earth, moon, and sun do in fact "line up“earth, moon, and sun do in fact "line up“

When this happens it is called an eclipseWhen this happens it is called an eclipse

There are two types of eclipse: There are two types of eclipse: solar solar eclipse eclipse andand lunar eclipse lunar eclipse

Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse When the moon blocks the sun or a When the moon blocks the sun or a

part of it, it's called a part of it, it's called a solar eclipsesolar eclipse The sun seems to disappearThe sun seems to disappear

Q: What phase does the moon need to Q: What phase does the moon need to be in for a solar eclipse to occur?be in for a solar eclipse to occur?

A: It can only happen during the A: It can only happen during the new new moonmoon phase when the moon is phase when the moon is betweenbetween the Earth and the sun.the Earth and the sun.

Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse

Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse

Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse

Q: Does a Solar Eclipse happen during the day or night?

A: It has to happen during the day, because the moon blocks out the sun.

A Total Solar Eclipse occurred A Total Solar Eclipse occurred on August 1, 2008on August 1, 2008

One minor catch . . .One minor catch . . .

To see it you had to be in northern To see it you had to be in northern Greenland, the Arctic, central Russia, Greenland, the Arctic, central Russia, Mongolia, or China Mongolia, or China

The Next Total Solar Eclipse The Next Total Solar Eclipse will be on July 22, 2009.will be on July 22, 2009.

You’ll be lucky to see it if you can travel to You’ll be lucky to see it if you can travel to . . .. . .

Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan,

Myanmar and China, and Myanmar and China, and

Japan's Ryukyu IslandsJapan's Ryukyu Islands

Road trip!Road trip!

Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse

Lunar EclipseLunar Eclipse

When the earth casts a shadow on the When the earth casts a shadow on the moon, it's called a moon, it's called a lunar eclipselunar eclipse

The moon seems to disappearThe moon seems to disappear

Q: Q: What phase does the moon need to What phase does the moon need to be in for a lunar eclipse to occur?be in for a lunar eclipse to occur?

A: It can only happen during the A: It can only happen during the full full moonmoon phase when the Earth is phase when the Earth is betweenbetween the sun and the moon.the sun and the moon.

Lunar EclipseLunar Eclipse

Why do you think the moon looks red

during an eclipse?

2009 Feb 09 Penumbral -0.083 - e Europe, Asia, Aus., Pacific, w N.A.

2009 Jul 07 Penumbral -0.909 - Aus., Pacific, Americas

2009 Aug 06 Penumbral -0.661 - Americas, Europe, Africa, w Asia

2009 Dec 31 Partial 0.082 01h02m Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.

2010 Jun 26 Partial 0.542 02h44m e Asia, Aus., Pacific, w Americas

2010 Dec 21 Total 1.262 03h29m01h13m

e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas, Europe

2011 Jun 15 Total 1.705 03h40m01h41m

S.America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.

2011 Dec 10 Total 1.110 03h33m00h52m

Europe, e Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific, N.A.

2012 Jun 04 Partial 0.376 02h08m Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas

Lunar EclipseLunar Eclipse

Q: Does a Lunar Eclipse happen during the day or night?

A: It has to happen during the night, because the Earth’s shadow blocks out the moon.

There will be a partial eclipse There will be a partial eclipse of the moon on December 31, of the moon on December 31,

20092009

It will be best seen if you are in the

Eastern hemisphere.

EclipseEclipse

Roughly 4 to 7 eclipses happen in any Roughly 4 to 7 eclipses happen in any given yeargiven year

Most of them minor or "partial" eclipsesMost of them minor or "partial" eclipses

Major lunar or solar eclipses are Major lunar or solar eclipses are relatively uncommon.relatively uncommon.