2007-03-07 03:58:25 · 4 answers · asked by rui h 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Lunar eclipse occurs only when the sun, earth and moon are horizontaly lined with each other. The moon must be behind the earth and the earth must be behind the sun. Solar eclipse happens when the moon is between earth and sun. There is no type or way of eclipse that could happen if the three are perpendicular to each other, which means that there is no lunar eclipse when the moon is halfway between the nodes of its orbit !
2007-03-07 04:13:37 · answer #1 · answered by ahmos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To eclipse the moon, the earth has to be between it & the sun.
If the earth is eclipsing the moon and it moves a wee bit out of the way the full sun will be staring at the moon and we'll see a full moon. If it was showing half a face the earth would have to move way way around and it'd no longer be a half moon.
Similarly, a solar eclipse requires a new moon to be between earth & sun, since we can't see the reflected light.
2007-03-07 12:03:50 · answer #2 · answered by Meg W 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The ascending and descending nodes are the points where the moon crosses the plane of the ecliptic - they're the only points where the sun Earth and moon can be in line with each other.
2007-03-07 13:49:17 · answer #3 · answered by Iridflare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is because it is furthest away from the earth's shadow, as lit by the sun.
2007-03-07 12:15:18 · answer #4 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋