Eclipses Revised

Eclipses
Lesson Objectives
1. Analyze the differences between solar and lunar eclipses, including their
causes, types, and the celestial alignments involved.
2. Demonstrate appreciation for the cultural and historical significance of eclipses
in shaping human understanding of astronomy and fostering curiosity about
celestial events.
3. Construct a physical or digital model to simulate the alignment of the Sun,
Earth, and Moon during solar and lunar eclipses, accurately demonstrating the
shadow patterns and phases.
Types of Eclipses
1. Solar Eclipse
o Occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking
the Sun's light either partially or completely.
o Types of Solar Eclipses:
§ Total Solar Eclipse: The Moon completely covers the Sun,
visible in a narrow path on Earth. This occurs when the Moon is
at or near perigee (closest to Earth).
§ Partial Solar Eclipse: Only a part of the Sun is obscured.
§ Annular Solar Eclipse: The Moon is farther from Earth (apogee)
and cannot fully cover the Sun, creating a "ring of fire."
§ Hybrid Solar Eclipse: Transitions between total and annular
along the eclipse path.
2. Lunar Eclipse
o Occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting
Earth's shadow on the Moon.
o Types of Lunar Eclipses:
§ Total Lunar Eclipse: The Moon moves entirely into Earth's
umbra (the central, darkest part of its shadow).
§ Partial Lunar Eclipse: Only part of the Moon passes through
Earth's umbra.
§ Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: The Moon passes through Earth's
penumbra, resulting in a subtle shading.
Astronomical Causes of Eclipses

Eclipses occur due to specific astronomical alignments and the interplay of
celestial mechanics. Below is a detailed discussion of their causes:
1. Orbital Geometry
o Eclipses occur due to the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon in a
straight line (syzygy). The Moon’s orbit around Earth is inclined about 5°
to the Earth’s orbital plane (the ecliptic), so eclipses occur only when the
Moon crosses the ecliptic plane at points called nodes.
2. Conditions for Solar and Lunar Eclipses
o Solar eclipses happen during the new moon phase, while lunar eclipses
occur during the full moon phase. For an eclipse to happen, the Sun,
Earth, and Moon must align closely at one of the Moon's nodes.
3. Eclipse Cycles
o The Saros cycle (~18 years, 11 days) is a period after which nearly
identical eclipses occur due to the repetition of relative orbital positions
of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.
1. Orbital Alignments and the Geometry of Eclipses

Eclipses are the result of the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon in a
straight or nearly straight line, known as syzygy.
A. Solar Eclipse
• Cause: A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and
the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth.
• Conditions:
o The Moon's orbital plane is tilted by about 5° relative to the Earth's
orbital plane (the ecliptic). Therefore, a solar eclipse can only occur
during a new moon, when the Moon is near one of its nodes (the
points where the Moon's orbit intersects the ecliptic).
o The Moon must be at the correct distance from Earth to cover the Sun
(perigee for total or annular eclipses).
B. Lunar Eclipse
• Cause: A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and
the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon.
• Conditions:
o A lunar eclipse can only happen during a full moon, when the Moon is
near a node.
o The Moon must pass through the Earth's umbra (full shadow) or
penumbra (partial shadow).
o The Earth's shadow is much larger than the Moon, making lunar
eclipses more frequent and visible over a wider area.
2. Orbital Planes and Nodes

The orbits of celestial bodies are not perfectly aligned:
• The Earth’s orbit around the Sun (ecliptic) and the Moon’s orbit around
Earth are inclined relative to each other.
• Eclipses occur only when the Sun is near one of the lunar nodes (a
phenomenon called the eclipse season), which happens roughly twice a
year.
Eclipse Season:
• Lasts about 34-38 days, allowing for one solar and one lunar eclipse during
each season.
3. Size and Distance Ratios

The relative sizes and distances of the Sun, Moon, and Earth play a crucial role in
the types of eclipses observed:
• The Moon is approximately 400 times smaller than the Sun but is also 400
times closer to Earth. This coincidental size ratio allows the Moon to appear
roughly the same size as the Sun in the sky, enabling solar eclipses.
4. Variations in Eclipse Types

The specific type of eclipse is determined by variations in distances and alignments:
• Perigee and Apogee: The elliptical orbit of the Moon results in changes in its
apparent size.
o A total eclipse occurs when the Moon is close to Earth (perigee), fully
covering the Sun.
o An annular eclipse happens when the Moon is at apogee and appears
smaller than the Sun.
• Inclination of the Moon’s Orbit: The 5° tilt means most new moons or full
moons do not result in eclipses.
5. Shadow Mechanics
• Umbra: The darkest part of the shadow, where the light source (Sun) is
completely obscured.
• Penumbra: The outer part of the shadow, where the light source is only
partially obscured.
• Antumbra: A region where the observer is beyond the umbra but within the
alignment of the light source and occluding body (seen in annular eclipses).
6. Cycles Governing Eclipses

Eclipses follow predictable cycles due to the orbital mechanics of the Earth-Moon-
Sun system:
• Saros Cycle: A period of approximately 18 years and 11 days after which
eclipses repeat with similar geometry. This occurs because the orbital periods
of the Moon and Earth are in near resonance.
Importance of Eclipses in Astronomy

Eclipses hold significant importance in astronomy due to their ability to provide
insights into celestial mechanics, the properties of celestial bodies, and the history of
the universe. Below are key points explaining their importance, supported by scientific
perspectives:
• Understanding Celestial Mechanics
o Eclipses have historically validated models of the solar system,
including the heliocentric theory.
o By analyzing eclipse timings, astronomers refine their
understanding of the Earth-Moon system.
• Scientific Observations
o Solar eclipses allow for observations of celestial mechanisms.
1. Understanding Celestial Mechanics

Eclipses are a direct demonstration of the principles of orbital dynamics and
gravitational forces. The precise alignments required for eclipses validate theories
about the motion of celestial bodies within the solar system.
• Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion: Observations of eclipses helped refine
orbital calculations, supporting Kepler’s laws and Newton’s theory of
gravitation.
• Precession and Ecliptic Alignment: The study of eclipse cycles, such as the
Saros cycle, aids in understanding the long-term stability and evolution of orbital
parameters (Meeus, 2009).
2. Solar Corona Studies

During a total solar eclipse, the bright solar disk is obscured, revealing the
Sun’s corona (outer atmosphere). This provides rare opportunities for:
• Studying the corona’s structure, temperature, and dynamics.
• Investigating solar wind and magnetic field interactions.
These studies contribute to understanding space weather, which impacts

satellites and communication systems (Pasachoff, 2009).
3. Verifying Relativity
Eclipses have played a pivotal role in testing Einstein’s theory of general
relativity. In the 1919 solar eclipse, astronomers observed the bending of starlight
around the Sun, confirming Einstein’s predictions of gravitational lensing (Dyson,
Eddington, & Davidson, 1920).
4. Lunar Studies
Lunar eclipses offer opportunities to:
• Study the Moon’s surface indirectly through Earth's refracted light.
• Examine variations in Earth’s atmosphere based on the color and intensity of
the eclipsed Moon.
5. Calendar Systems and Cultural Impact

Eclipses historically guided the development of accurate calendar systems.
They also hold cultural and historical significance, often inspiring early civilizations to
study celestial patterns.
6. Public Engagement and Science Communication

Eclipses, especially total solar eclipses, serve as rare astronomical events that
capture public interest, promoting science literacy and inspiring future generations of
astronomers.
Requirements:
1. Construct a physical or digital model to simulate the alignment of the Sun,
Earth, and Moon during solar and lunar eclipses, accurately demonstrating the
shadow patterns and phases.
2. Write a one-page synthesis about the videos and required readings in the link
(A4, encoded to be submitted in the next f2f session):
Other required readings:
• https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/
Required to watch:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuqOb99cLJ8
• https://youtu.be/wshkH64xDac?si=ah15VZAL4uMmrteP
References
• Aveni, A. F. (1993). Empires of Time: Calendars, Clocks, and Cultures. University
of Colorado Press.
• Dyson, F. W., Eddington, A. S., & Davidson, C. (1920). "A determination of the
deflection of light by the Sun's gravitational field." Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society A.
• Espenak, F. (2000). "Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak." NASA Eclipse Web
Site.
• Meeus, J. (2009). Mathematical Astronomy Morsels IV. Willmann-Bell, Inc.
• Pasachoff, J. M. (2009). "Solar and Lunar Eclipses." Astronomy Education Review,
8(1).
• Pasachoff, J. M. (2009). "Solar eclipses as an astrophysical laboratory." Nature,
459(7248), 789-795.

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Eclipses

Astronomical Causes of Eclipses

1. Orbital Alignments and the Geometry of Eclipses

2. Orbital Planes and Nodes

3. Size and Distance Ratios

4. Variations in Eclipse Types

6. Cycles Governing Eclipses

Importance of Eclipses in Astronomy

1. Understanding Celestial Mechanics

2. Solar Corona Studies

These studies contribute to understanding space weather, which impacts

5. Calendar Systems and Cultural Impact

6. Public Engagement and Science Communication

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