Lesson 1: The Vanishing Moon
In this lesson,pupils lern about eclipse of the Moon. They should understand why this phenomenon occurs.
ECLIPSE OFTHE MOON
During an eclipse of the Moon (Lunar Eclipse), the Eatrh block the sunlight from reaching the Moon. An eclipse of the Moon ( Lumar Eclipse) occur at a full Moon when the Earth is directly between the moon and the Sun. Thus the Moon appears dark from the Earth.
The Moon appear dark when the Earth blocks the sunlight from reaching the Moon. This phenomenon will only occur when the Earth is between the Earth and the Sun. The Earth, the Moon and the Sun also need to be in a straight line. We call it eclipse of the Moon.
The dark is the area when sunlight completely cut off. The lighter part is the area where sunlight is partially cut off.
PHASES OF ECLIPSEOF THE MOON
During the eclipse og the Moon, the Eatth shadow has two parts:
- the lighter part (penumbra) -where the Earth partly blocks the sunlight.
- the dark part (umbra) - when the Earth totally blocks the sunlight.
Partial Eclipse of the Moon
In a partial eclipse, the Earth's dark part (umbra) darknes the prt of the Moon.The reminderof the Moon will still be quite brigth as normal. However,the Earth's dark parwill gradually move across the Moon,and the sunlight level will drop noticeably.Less and less portionof the Moon will remain bright.
Total Eclipse of the Moon
In a total eclipse of the Moon, the dark part o f the Earth (unbra) completelycovers the Moon. The Moon darkens, turn into a dark red or dark copppery-red coluur disc. A total eclipse is always preceded and followed by a partial eclipse.
