2. What is ECLIPSE?
¤ A natural phenomenon that occurs when all or part of the sunlight is blocked by the
Moon or the Earth.
¤ Caused by the position of the Sun, the Earth and the Moon in a straight line.
¤ Sunlight travels in a straight line and cannot pass through opaque objects i.e the Earth
or the Moon.
¤ 2 types of eclipse:
a) Eclipse of the Sun
b) Eclipse of the Moon
3. Eclipse of the Moon
¤ The Sun, Earth, and Moon are in a straight line. The Earth blocks the sunlight from reaching
the Moon. The Earth’s shadow is formed on the surface of the Moon.
¤ Can occur three times a year. The duration of the eclipse of the Moon usually happens for
several hours.
¤ Characteristics of Lunar eclipse:
a) occurs at night
b) occurs during the full moon phase
c) occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon
4. Eclipse of the Moon
Total eclipse of the
Moon can be seen when
the whole Moon is in the
totally dark area.
Partial eclipse of the
Moon starts to appear
when the Moon begins
to move out of the
partially dark area
to the totally dark area.
Partial eclipse of the
Moon will be visible
again when the Moon
moves out of the totally
dark area to the partially
dark area.
5. Eclipse of the Sun
¤ The Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are in a straight line. The Moon blocks sunlight from
reaching the Earth. The Moon’s shadow is formed on the surface of the Earth.
¤ Can occur at least twice a year. The eclipse of the Sun usually lasts for only a few
minutes.
¤ During a total solar eclipse of the Sun, the surroundings will be as dark as night. The
Sun appears as a dark circle surrounded by a bright ring called a corona.
¤ Characteristics of the eclipse of the Sun:
a) Occurs during daytime only.
b) Occurs when the Moon is in the new Moon phase.
c) Occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth.
6. Eclipse of the Sun
The entire Sun is
blocked by the Moon
and can only be seen
from the area of the
Moon’s shadow that is
totally dark.
The Sun is partly
blocked by the Moon.
The Sun can only be
seen from the area of
the Moon’s shadow
that is partially dark.
corona
