2007-01-24 08:08:29 · 8 answers · asked by goring 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It all depends on the location of the moon in it's orbit (where it is, as all pointed out, the moon that eclipses the sun). There was an eclipse in (I think) July of 1992 that eventually travelled from Hawa'ii to Panama. Many travel northeast, it is true. They all have an eastern component.
This variation is due to the fact that the moon's orbit is not in the same plane as the earth's orbit. So, when the moons orbit and the path of the sun cross the moon may be far north or far south in it's path, and so the direction of the motion of the shadow (and where it can be seen at all) varies a lot.
I should think that if an eclipse were in progress at local sunrise the shadow might seem to elongate in a westerly direction, but only because of the geometry of the curvature of the earth, the rotation of the earth, and the actual movement of the shadow.
2007-01-24 08:28:53 · answer #1 · answered by David A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eclipses occur in a North-easterly direction
Little know Eclipse facts**
Lunar eclipses can only occur during a full moon.
Solar eclipses can only occur during a new moon.
A Solar eclipse always occurs two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.
Eclipses very often occur in threes, alternating lunar, solar and lunar.
The maximum time a lunar eclipse can last is 3 hours and 40 minutes.
The longest time the Moon can stay in totality is 1 hour 40 minutes.
The maximum time for a total solar eclipse is 7 minutes and 40 seconds.
The maximum time for an annular solar eclipse is 12 minutes 24 seconds.
Lunar eclipses can occur up to 3 times a year.
Solar eclipses can occur at least 2 and no more than 5 times a year.
Lunar eclipses are visible over an entire hemisphere.
Solar eclipses are visible in a narrow path a maximum of 167 miles wide (269km.)
At any geographic position on the Earth, a total solar eclipse occur an average of once every 360 years.
The cycle of eclipses repeats every 18.6 years called the saros.
The eclipse shadow moves at 2,000 mph at the Earth's poles and 1,000 mph at the Earth's equator.
2007-01-24 08:21:36 · answer #2 · answered by ♥chelley♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the sun never really eclipses the moon, it is actually the earths shadow on the moon. Or a lunar eclipse.
A solar eclipse is when the moon is between the earth ans sun, and actually (partially) shadows the earth.
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse
2007-01-24 08:14:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!!
The sun never eclipses the moon. The moon eclipses the sun!
And when the moon eclipses the sun, the shadow always moves to the NorthEast.
2007-01-24 08:11:23 · answer #4 · answered by Rusty Shackleford 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
the sun doesnt eclipse the moon...the moon eclipses the sun....the lunar shadow moves eastward on the earth...
2007-01-24 08:15:12 · answer #5 · answered by badjanssen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My answer is based on tree conditions. First, the sun to be stationary. Second, the moon orbiting westward. And third, the earth turning eastward.
My conclusion, the shadow moves westward.
2007-01-24 08:21:29 · answer #6 · answered by egan 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
East.
2007-01-24 08:10:21 · answer #7 · answered by Lee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
west to east
2007-01-24 08:14:56 · answer #8 · answered by snappy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋