Under normal conditions, the Moon's orbit is tilted (about 5°), causing its shadow to usually pass above or below the Earth.
: Change the positions of these bodies to see how different alignments result in different types of eclipses.
| Comparison Point | Solar Eclipse | Lunar Eclipse | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | New Moon | Full Moon | | Order of Bodies | Sun → Moon → Earth | Sun → Earth → Moon | | Visibility | Visible only to a small area on Earth. | Visible to anyone on the night side of Earth. | | Frequency | Rarer to see from a specific location. | More common to see from a specific location. | | Duration | Short (minutes). | Long (hours). |
One of the most common points of confusion addressed in the Gizmo is the size of the shadows.
Rotate the simulation so the Earth is in the center, with the Moon on the opposite side of the Sun. The Moon must pass through the Earth's shadow.
Given the educational nature of such a tool, an "answer key" might include:
: The lighter, outer part of the shadow where only a partial eclipse is visible. Frequency and Motion
Under normal conditions, the Moon's orbit is tilted (about 5°), causing its shadow to usually pass above or below the Earth.
: Change the positions of these bodies to see how different alignments result in different types of eclipses.
| Comparison Point | Solar Eclipse | Lunar Eclipse | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | New Moon | Full Moon | | Order of Bodies | Sun → Moon → Earth | Sun → Earth → Moon | | Visibility | Visible only to a small area on Earth. | Visible to anyone on the night side of Earth. | | Frequency | Rarer to see from a specific location. | More common to see from a specific location. | | Duration | Short (minutes). | Long (hours). |
One of the most common points of confusion addressed in the Gizmo is the size of the shadows.
Rotate the simulation so the Earth is in the center, with the Moon on the opposite side of the Sun. The Moon must pass through the Earth's shadow.
Given the educational nature of such a tool, an "answer key" might include:
: The lighter, outer part of the shadow where only a partial eclipse is visible. Frequency and Motion
