Total Lunar Eclipse?

Question

Heres my questions:

Whats a total lunar eclipse?
What does it have to do with science?
How often does it happen?
Why does this happen?

Thank you so much! =)

Please just speak english and not science, I cant understand it! And also, please just dont make it like a page long.!!! Jeez. But thanks still.

Answer 1

ok you know how the moon goes around the earth in moer or less a circle? ok well it isnt a perfect circle, and sometimes, when it goes on the side of the earth opposite the sun, it goes into the earth's shadow. when this happens, the moon goes darker for a while, and if it passes through the shadow just right, it will go completely black after a while.

It has to do with science because it has to do with space. you have to know a lot about math and science to know when an eclipse is going to happen. things like gravity, speed, mass, and rotation will tell you when an eclipse will happen, and who will be able to see it.

happens about twice a year

as said above, it happens when the moon goes into the Earth's shadow.

Answer 2

Total Lunar Eclipse Frequency

Answer 3

A lunar eclipse is when the moon travels into the Earth's shadow. Like you walking into the shadow of a tree. When the moon is full each month, it is closest to the shadow of the Earth because the earth is between the moon and the sun. Some times some of the shadow falls on the moon and some times it goes into the full shadow.
It doesn't mean much to science. But a total Lunar eclipse is worth seeing.
I don't know how often it happens, but I'm sure there is a web sight for that.
It happens because the earth and moon are on a vertical plane going around the sun.

Answer 4

A total lunar eclipse is the eclipse of the moon. That means the moon is being overshadowed.
During an eclipse, the moon comes in between the earth and the sun. These three heavenly are in a straight line. The moon should be full and then when in comes between the earth and the sun, the earth's shadow is being cast on it and thus it is being covered.

There are two types of shadow cast- penumbra and the umbra. The umbra is the darker shadow and when it casts on the surface of the earth, that area experiences total lunar eclipse. While those in the penumbra experiences partial lunar eclipse... I guess.
August 28, there was a lunar eclipse. Some parts of the Philippines, my country, has experienced a total lunar eclipse. I have seen it in fact and it lasted for about 2 hours.
They said the next eclipse will happen by February 2008.

Eclipses were a mysterious phenomenon back in ancient times. But now they remain as one of the most spectacular phenomenons in nature. Eclipses helped prove that the earth is spherical as its shadow during lunar eclipses reveal. So that way, it contributed to science.

Answer 5

A total lunar eclipse is just the Earth casting its huge shadow on the moon as the moon goes behind us (like a big sun umbrella).

It has to do with science because the moon and the sun are in space and one of the sciences (astronomy) is the study of space.

About twice a year.

It happens because the moon moves behind the Earth and the Earth's shadow covers it for a while (again, like a big sun umbrella).

Any more detail would be using "science" and you've already said you don't like science.

So a question for you - why ask about eclipses if you don't like science?

Answer 6

total Lunar eclipse: earth comes between the sun and moon, which chasts a shadow on the moon. (shadow covers the moon completely therefore total eclipes)

What does it have to do with science? Astronomy, the way the planets travel in their orbits, ect

How often does it happen? no too often, This year their were too, the next one is in feb 2008, After that, in 2010.

Why does this happen? because earths orbit around the sun and the moon orbits around the earth. More info below

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2007Aug28/TLE2007Aug28.html

Answer 7

It's when the earth gets between the sun and the moon. The moon, then, is in the earth's shadow. Since the earth is bigger than the moon, it is able to have it's shadow completely cover the moon. It only happens during a full moon but not every full moon. They happen every so often. I don't know how frequently.

Answer 8

What is an eclipse of the Moon? What causes eclipses and why? How often do eclipses happen and when is the next eclipse of the Moon? You'll learn the answers to these questions and more in MrEclipse's primer on lunar eclipses.

The Moon is a cold, rocky body about 2,160 miles (3,476 km) in diameter. It has no light of its own but shines by sunlight reflected from its surface. The Moon orbits Earth about once every 29 and a half days. As it circles our planet, the changing position of the Moon with respect to the Sun causes our natural satellite to cycle through a series of phases:

New, New Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full,
Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Old Crescent and back to New again.



Phases of theMoon.
The phase known as New Moon can not actually be seen because the illuminated side of the Moon is then pointed away from Earth. The rest of the phases are familiar to all of us as the Moon cycles through them month after month. Did you realize that the word month is derived from the Moon's 29.5 day period?

To many of us, Full Moon is the phase of love and romance. When the Moon is Full, it rises at sunset and is visible all night long. At the end of the night, the Full Moon sets just as the Sun rises. None of the Moon's other phases have this unique characteristic. It happens because the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky when the Moon is Full. Full Moon also has special significance with regard to eclipses.



Geometry of the Sun, Earth and Moon During an Eclipse of the Moon.
Earth's two shadows are the penumbra and the umbra.
(Sizes and distances not to scale)
An eclipse of the Moon (or lunar eclipse) can only occur at Full Moon, and only if the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. The shadow is actually composed of two cone-shaped components, one nested inside the other. The outer or penumbral shadow is a zone where the Earth blocks part but not all of the Sun's rays from reaching the Moon. In contrast, the inner or umbral shadow is a region where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.

Astronomers recognize three basic types of lunar eclipses:

1. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

The Moon passes through Earth's penumbral shadow.
These events are of only academic interest since they are subtle and quite difficult to observe.
2. Partial Lunar Eclipse

A portion of the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow.
These events are easy to see, even with the unaided eye.
3. Total Lunar Eclipse

The entire Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow.
These events are quite striking for the vibrant range of colors the Moon can take on during the total phase (i.e. - totality).
Now you might be wondering "If the Moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days and lunar eclipses only occur at Full Moon, then why don't we have an eclipse once a month during Full Moon?". I'm glad you asked! You see, the Moon's orbit around Earth is actually tipped about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun. This means that the Moon spends most of the time either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit. And the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun is important because Earth's shadows lie exactly in the same plane. During Full Moon, our natural satellite usually passes above or below Earth's shadows and misses them entirely. No eclipse takes place. But two to four times each year, the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's penumbral or umbral shadows and one of the above three types of eclipses occurs.

When an eclipse of the Moon takes place, everyone on the night side of Earth can see it. About 35% of all eclipses are of the penumbral type which are very difficult to detect, even with a telescope. Another 30% are partial eclipses which are easy to see with the unaided eye. The final 35% or so are total eclipses, and these are quite extrordinary events to behold.



Beginning (right), middle (center) and end (left) of totality
during the total lunar eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21.
(Click here to see a gallery of photos from this eclipse)
During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. Astronauts on the Moon would then see the Earth eclipsing the Sun. (They would see a bright red ring around the Earth as they watched all the sunrises and sunsets happening simultaneousely around the world!) While the Moon remains completely within Earth's umbral shadow, indirect sunlight still manages to reach and illuminate it. However, this sunlight must first pass deep through the Earth's atmosphere which filters out most of the blue colored light. The remaining light is a deep red or orange in color and is much dimmer than pure white sunlight. Earth's atmosphere also bends or refracts some of this light so that a small fraction of it can reach and illuminate the Moon.

The total phase of a lunar eclipse is so interesting and beautiful precisely because of the filtering and refracting effect of Earth's atmosphere. If the Earth had no atmosphere, then the Moon would be completely black during a total eclipse. Instead, the Moon can take on a range of colors from dark brown and red to bright orange and yellow. The exact appearance depends on how much dust and clouds are present in Earth's atmosphere. Total eclipses tend to be very dark after major volcanic eruptions since these events dump large amounts of volcanic ash into Earth's atmosphere. During the total lunar eclipse of December 1992, dust from Mount Pinatubo rendered the Moon nearly invisible.

All total eclipses start with a penumbral followed by a partial eclipse, and end with a partial followed by a penumbral eclipse (the total eclipse is sandwiched in the middle). The penumbral phases of the eclipse are quite difficult to see, even with a telescope. However, partial and total eclipses are easy to observe, even with the naked eye.



Phases of the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jan 20-21.
(Click here to see a gallery of photos from this eclipse)


Observing Lunar Eclipses
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. You don't need any kind of protective filters. It isn't even necessary to use a telescope. You can watch the lunar eclipse with nothing more than your own two eyes. If you have a pair of binoculars, they will help magnify the view and will make the red coloration brighter and easier to see. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars work fine. Remember to dress warmly and enjoy the spectacle!

Amateur astronomers can actually make some useful observations during total eclipses. It's impossible to predict exactly how dark the Moon will appear during totality. The color can also vary from dark gray or brown, through a range of shades of red and bright orange. The color and brightness depend on the amount of dust in Earth's atmosphere during the eclipse. Using the Danjon Brightness Scale for lunar eclipses, amateurs can categorize the Moon's color and brightness during totality.

Another useful amateur activity requires a telescope. Using a standard list lunar craters, one can careful measure the exact time when each crater enters and leaves the umbral shadow. These crater timings can be used to estimate the enlargement of Earth's atmosphere due to airborne dust and volcanic ash.

Of course, an eclipse of the Moon also presents a tempting target to photograph. Fortunately, lunar eclipse photography is easy provided that you have the right equipment and use it correctly. For more photographs taken during previous lunar eclipses, be sure to visit Lunar Eclipse Gallery 1 and Lunar Eclipse Gallery 2.



Eclipse Frequency and Future Eclipses
During the five millennium period from 2000BC through 3000 AD, there are 7,718 eclipses1 of the Moon (including both partial and total). There are anywhere from 0 to 3 lunar eclipses (not including penumbral) each year. The last time that three total lunar eclipses occurred in one calendar year was in 1982. Partial eclipses slightly outnumber total eclipses by 7 to 6.


1 Only eclipses where the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow are included in these values. A minor type of eclipse is the penumbral eclipse which occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's faint penumbral shadow. Penumbral eclipses are rarely discernable to the naked eye and are of lesser importance than umbral eclipses.
The table below lists every lunar eclipse from 2000 through 2008. Click on the eclipse Date to see a map and diagram of an eclipse. Click on the Region of Eclipse Visibility to see a detailed description of an eclipse. Although penumbral lunar eclipses are included in this list, they are usually quite difficult to observe because of their subtlety. The penumbra is a partial shadow which still permits some direct sunlight to reach the Moon.

The Umbral Magnitude is the fraction on the Moon's diameter immersed in the umbra at maximum eclipse. For values greater than 1.0, it is a total eclipse. For negative values, it is a penumbral eclipse. The Total Duration is the duration of the total phase (total eclipses only).


Lunar Eclipses: 2000 - 2010
Date Eclipse
Type Umbral
Magnitude Total
Duration Geographic Region of
Eclipse Visibility
2000 Jan 21 Total 1.330 78m Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa
2000 Jul 16 Total 1.773 108m Asia, Pacific, w Americas
2001 Jan 09 Total 1.195 01h02m e Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
2001 Jul 05 Partial 0.499 - e Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific
2001 Dec 30 Penumbral -0.110 - e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2002 May 26 Penumbral -0.283 - e Asia, Aus., Pacific, w Americas
2002 Jun 24 Penumbral -0.788 - S. America, Europe, Africa, c Asia, Aus.
2002 Nov 20 Penumbral -0.222 - Americas, Europe, Africa, e Asia
2003 May 16 Total 1.134 00h53m c Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa
2003 Nov 09 Total 1.022 00h24m Americas, Europe, Africa, c Asia
2004 May 04 Total 1.309 01h16m S. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2004 Oct 28 Total 1.313 01h21m Americas, Europe, Africa, c Asia
2005 Apr 24 Penumbral -0.139 - e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2005 Oct 17 Partial 0.068 - Asia, Aus., Pacific, North America
2006 Mar 14 Penumbral -0.055 - Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
2006 Sep 07 Partial 0.189 - Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2007 Mar 03 Total 1.238 01h14m Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia
2007 Aug 28 Total 1.481 01h31m e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas
2008 Feb 21 Total 1.111 00h51m c Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa
2008 Aug 16 Partial 0.813 - S. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
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 - Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.
2010 Jun 26 Partial 0.542 - e Asia, Aus., Pacific, w Americas
2010 Dec 21 Total 1.262 01h13m e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas, Europe



Geographic abreviations (used above): n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central

The last total lunar eclipse visible from all of the United States occured on Oct. 27-28, 2004. The next total lunar eclipse occurs on Mar. 3-4, 2007 and will be visible from the North and South America, Europe, Africa and much of Asia.