It's for a stupid science project I have & I can't find the answer.
2007-10-05 16:16:42 · 4 answers · asked by Tash Lestrange 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Are you serious, you really can't find the answer?
OK, when you have a new moon where does the moon have to be? If the moon is anywhere but between the earth and the sun the sun will illuminate part or all of the portion of the moon visible from earth. Since the shadow cast by the moon is what causes a solar eclipse the moon has to be directly between the earth and the sun. It's really pretty simply when you look at it.
A lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon for a similar reason. The shadow of the earth which is directly opposite the sun is where the moon must travel in order to be eclipsed.
I will check my email tomorrow. If you have any problems with that drop me a line and I'll try harder. It really is a simple concept once you get a handle on it... Try a light source and two spheres, like a basketball and a softball. Line them up different ways and you will see what is going on.
2007-10-05 16:30:14 · answer #1 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Solar eclipse is nothing but masking of the sun's disc from our view.This can happen only if some object which comes in between the sun and our eyes prevents us from seeing the sun.When that object happens to be the moon ,we call that phenomenon as solar eclipse.So,on solar eclipse,the moon will be in between the sun and the earth.Incidently this is the case of the new moon as the moon blocks the sun's rays and the illuminated portion of the moon is on the other side so that we see neither the sun nor the moon.
2007-10-06 02:11:42 · answer #2 · answered by Arasan 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A "new" moon is when you can't see the moon at all because there is no sunlight shining on the side of the moon that faces earth at that time of month, like in this image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Solar_eclipse.svg
and you can only have a solar eclipse when the moon is blocking the sun's rays from earth, just like in that picture again. so solar eclipse=new moon. and remember, only people in that narrow band of the "umbra" can see the total eclipse. People in the penumbra see the eclipse too, but its not as cool. =P
2007-10-05 16:30:31 · answer #3 · answered by natbeast 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When the moon is a new moon, you can not see it, so when it is right between the earth and the sun, the sun cannot reflect off of it, therefore you cannot see either the sun or the moon, creating a solar eclipse
2007-10-05 16:32:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋