2007-09-01 14:22:44 · 5 answers · asked by khijrfc 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Moon revolves around the Earth every 27 days. If the sky is 360 degrees all the way around, then the Moon moves about 13 degrees each day, or 1/2 degree per hour.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. A total eclipse lasts four hours. That means the Earths shadow must be about 2 degrees at the distance of the Moon.
So you can't have an eclipse two nights in a row because the Earth's shadow just isn't big enough. In a 24 hour period, the Moon will have moved 13 degrees further from it.
2007-09-01 14:46:14 · answer #1 · answered by stork5100 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the moon wasn't anywhere near Earth's shadow the next night. Its all a matter of angles.
During a total lunar eclipse, the moon is in just the right position in its orbit that it crosses Earth's shadow. But the moon keeps moving around the Earth, so the next night its further in its movement around the Earth and has left Earth's shadow behind.
The moon's orbit around the Earth is what matters for this, our rotation (day) is only important to us because that changes our angles of view - but our rotation doesn't affect the moon's orbital position compared to Earth's shadow.
Picture it this way.
Get a lamp, a basketball and a baseball. The basketball is the Earth, the baseball is the moon.
Hold the basketball and baseball so that the shadow of the basketball covers the baseball.
Now move the baseball a little around the basketball (as though it was in orbit) and you'll see its out of the shadow.
2007-09-02 00:51:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There was a total eclipse Tuesday, but no partial one the next day. You cannot have eclipses two days in a row.
2007-09-01 21:30:57 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
didnt you ask this yesterday?
draw a line from the sun thru the center of the earth to the moon. this is the position of a lunar eclipse. now, roll it ahead one day. the earth has moved along on its orbit. draw another line... where's the moon? not lining up, due to lagging behind in its orbit around the earth. lets wait for it to catch up... oops, its orbit is slightly inclined, so it is still out of line!
eclipses are rare things. sometimes you get two in a month, but that is not common. two a year is more likely.
2007-09-01 21:35:41 · answer #4 · answered by Faesson 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there was.... a partial.... red moon rising..... the Earth's shadow is wide and causes the red rising full moons.... it's the 'second' shadow of Earth that causes the full Lunar Eclipse..............
http://www.mainenature.org/images/lunar_eclipse_schematic.jpg
2007-09-02 10:24:27 · answer #5 · answered by meanolmaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋