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Red-tailed hawk staring down at camera.
08/10/2005    
S. M. Smoller     e-mail

 

The Higgins Middle School
has adopted the FISH philosophy.

 

 
SCHEDULE | MAHER LIBRARY | CURRICULUM MAPPING | PATHFINDERS | TOOLS

PathFinder - Tattan - January 2004

MarsQuest Online:  Drive a Rover - Fly Over Mars

  
NASA M2K4 Mars 2004 | NASA: Mars Exploration Rover Mission
 The Planetary Society's Red Rover Goes to Mars Project

October 2003

Lunar and Solar Eclipses

Eclipses have awed and fascinated humans for as long as they have walked on Earth.  What causes eclipses?  What's the difference between a lunar and a solar eclipse.  When do they occur?  You'll find out in this activity.

First, we'll explore lunar eclipses. 
What phase must the moon be in a for a lunar eclipse?  Explain why.

Using the illustration of Lunar Eclipse Geometry below, sketch the positions of the Earth, Sun and Moon during a lunar eclipse.
Lunar Eclipse Geometry

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)

What is the outer or penumbral shadow of a lunar eclipse?
What is the inner or umbral shadow?

Describe each of the three different kinds of lunar eclipses.

Explain why the Moon does not appear completely black during a lunar eclipse.

Using the chart of Lunar Eclipses 2000-2008 below, when is the next lunar eclipse and where will it be visible.
 

Lunar Eclipses: 2000 - 2008
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 03h09m S. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus.

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

When is the next lunar eclipse that will be visible from Peabody, Mass.?

Next, you'll find out about solar eclipses.