Lunar Phases and Eclipses Created by the Lunar and Planetary Institute This powerpoint compiled by the Education Staff at the Lunar and Planetary Institute www.lpi.usra.edu Image from http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/gallery/Earth_Moon.jpg Image from http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/gallery/Earth_Moon.jpgEight days after its final encounter with the Earth, the Galileo spacecraft looked back and captured this remarkable view of the Earth and Moon. The image was taken from a distance of about 6.2 million km (3.9 million miles). The picture was made with images taken through the violet, red, and 1.0-micron infrared filters. The Moon is in the foreground, moving from left to right. The brightly-colored Earth contrasts strongly with the Moon, which reflects only about one-third as much sunlight as the Earth. Contrast and color have been computer-enhanced for both objects to improve visibility. Antarctica is visible through clouds (bottom). The Moon's far side is seen; the shadowy indentation in the dawn terminator is the south pole Aitken Basin, one of the largest and oldest lunar impact features. Created by the Lunar and Planetary Institute For Educational Use Only LPI is not responsible for the ways in which this powerpoint may be used or altered. http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/gallery/Earth_Moon.jpg

Preliminary Topics Before students can understand the reason for phases, they need to understand: The Moon orbits the Earth The Moon orbit at an angle with respect to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun The Moon doesn’t shine on its own; it reflects sunlight The scale of the Moon and Earth’s sizes and distance Please go through Earth and Moon statistics before trying to cover the reason for phases or eclipses. Ecliptic plane Moon’s orbital plane We highly recommend doing Earth and Moon statistics with workshop participants before doing this powerpoint, if you intend to discuss the reason for phases or eclipses.

Phases: Observing and Identifying New (couple days) Waxing Crescent (several days) 1st Quarter Waxing Gibbous (several days) Full Waning Gibbous (several days) 3rd Quarter Waning Crescent (several days) New Images from http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/moon_phases/about.shtml In some states, young elementary students may be required in their science standards to observe the changing patterns in the Moon’s appearance. Making observations part of the classroom assignments is a fundamental part of this; the students can bring in drawings of the Moon’s appearance on paper or on paper plates, and they can be placed on the wall over a period of 1-2 months. Students can also make phases out of Oreo cookies. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/skytellers/moon_phases/about.shtml

Golfball and Blacklight Activity Phases--Causes The Sun shines on the Moon. When the sunlight reflects off the Moon’s far side, we call it a New Moon When the sunlight reflects off on the Moon’s near side, we call it a Full Moon Between New and Full, we see parts of the daytime side of the Moon. It is not appropriate for very young students to try to master the reason for phases; they often do not have the ability to imagine the three-dimensional nature of this. Many adults have fundamental misconceptions regarding the reason for the Moon’s phases. We conduct an activity with golfballs and blacklights in our workshop here, allowing participants to see “phases”. Golfball and Blacklight Activity

Please do NOT use this to teach phases; use to test for comprehension From http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question3.html Full Moon rises as the Sun sets. The Full Moon is in mid-sky at Midnight. Full Moon sets as the Sun rises. Full Moon cannot be seen during the day. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question3.html

Also from StarChild: http://starchild. gsfc. nasa starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/phases.html

Eclipses The Sun and Moon occasionally line up so that we have an eclipse. These eclipses happen every year To see a solar eclipse, you need to be on a particular part of the Earth Only after phases have been mastered should you try to teach the reason for eclipses; otherwise, students will often assume that the reason for the Moon’s phases is the Earth’s shadow. To understand why we have eclipses, we use the golfballs and blacklights, along with an embroidery hoop to model out the changing intersection of the Moon’s orbit with the ecliptic, as the Earth goes around the Sun.

When the Earth’s shadow covers the Moon, we have a lunar eclipse http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html Additional details are at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse When the Earth’s shadow covers the Moon, we have a lunar eclipse

Three types of Lunar Eclipses Penumbral lunar eclipse—the Moon only passes through the penumbra of Earth’s shadow Partial lunar eclipse—part of the Moon passes through the umbra of Earth’s shadow Total lunar eclipse—the entire Moon passes through the umbra of Earth’s shadow Who on Earth will be able to see a lunar eclipse? Anyone who can see the Moon (anyone who is on the nighttime side of the Earth during the eclipse)

Images from Fred Espanak and may be found at http://www.mreclipse.com/LEphoto/LEgallery1/LEgallery1.html Images from Fred Espenak http://www.mreclipse.com/LEphoto/LEgallery1/LEgallery1.html

Why is the Moon red during an eclipse? The Earth’s atmosphere filters some sunlight and allows it to reach the Moon’s surface The blue light is removed—scattered down to make a blue sky over those in daytime Remaining light is red or orange Some of this remaining light is bent or refracted so that a small fraction of it reaches the Moon Exact appearance depends on dust and clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere

Upcoming Lunar Eclipses June 15, 2011, Total lunar eclipse (not visible in US_ Dec 10, 2011, Total lunar eclipse (mostly not visible in US) June 4, 2012, Partial eclipse Nov. 28, 2012, Penumbral eclipse Apr. 25, 2013, Partial eclipse (not visible in US) May 25, 2013, Penumbral eclipse Oct. 18, 2013, Penumbral eclipse Apr 15, 2014, TOTAL ECLIPSE –visible here Information at http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/lunar.html

Solar Eclipses When the Moon’s shadow covers part of the Earth Only happens at New Moon Three types: Annular, Partial, and Total Diagram from Fred Espenak, may be found along with lots of good information at http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/SEprimer.html

Total Solar Eclipse Observers in the “umbra” shadow see a total eclipse (safe to view the Sun); can see the corona Those in “penumbra” see a partial eclipse—not safe to look directly at Sun Only lasts a few minutes Path of Totality about 10,000 miles long, only 100 miles wide Diagram by Fred Espenak and more information may be found at www.MrEclipse.com

Photo of a Total Eclipse From http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/multimedia/gal_008.php http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/multimedia/gal_008.php

Annular Solar Eclipse When the Moon is too far to completely cover the Sun—the umbra doesn’t reach the Earth Sun appears as a donut around the Moon Diagram from Fred Espenak, may be found along with information at http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/SEprimer.html

Photos of an Annular Eclipse From http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/multimedia/gal_010.php; photos taken by Fred Espenak http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/multimedia/gal_010.php; photos taken by Fred Espenak

Upcoming Solar Eclipses Nov. 25, 2011, partial solar eclipse—not visible in USA May 20, 2012 (annular)—VISIBLE In USA Nov. 13, 2012, total eclipse—not visible in USA May 10, 2013, annular eclipse—not visible in USA Next Total Solar Eclipse in continental USA—August 21, 2017 Information at http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/solar.html

Tides The Moon’s gravity tugs on the Earth. It pulls the most on the part of Earth closest, which raises the atmosphere, the oceans, and even the rocks (a little) It pulls the least on the part of Earth that’s farthest, which allows the oceans and atmosphere to be further from the Moon (and higher) The Sun’s gravity does the same thing, but to a lesser extent It's not a question of mass, but of energy! The tidal force exerted by the Moon on the Earth causes the oceans to bulge. The Earth rotates about its axis faster than the Moon revolves around the Earth, and this rapid rotation carries the tidal bulge of the oceans forward of the Moon in its orbit. So the tidal bulge on the Earth is always slightly ahead of the Moon's own position. This bulge is continuously tugging the Moon forward, increasing the Moon's total energy. Imagine a cowboy's lasso. As the cowboy spins the lasso faster and faster (increasing its total energy), the loop gets wider. The same thing essentially happens to the Moon. The tugging of the Earth's bulge lifts it into a wider orbit around the Earth.

Tides and the Moon