Introduction
What is an Solar Eclipse?
Solar Eclipse is a type of eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth.
What is an Lunar Eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its shadow. This can occur only when the sun, Earth and moon are aligned exactly.
Task
New Moon
The new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the earth and sun. The three objects are in approximate alignment. The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on the back side of the moon, the half that we cannot see.
Full Moon
At a Full Moon, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are in approximate alignment. So the entire sunlit part of the moon is facing us. The shadowed portion is entirely hidden from view.
First Quarter and Third Quarter
The first quarter and third quarter moons. Happen when the moon is at a 90 degree angle with respect to the earth and sun. So we are seeing exactly half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow.
It takes about 29 days for the moon to past though all it phases.
Process
Why do solar eclipses and lunar eclipses not happen every month?
Because the moon’s orbit is tilted so the moon is too high or too low in its orbit to line up with the sun and Earth.