Lunar Eclipse Fun

Front

A lunar eclipse occurs when the sun passes through the shadow of the earth.

Back

the Moon passes through the shadow of the Earth.

Front

This type of eclipse

Back

can only occur during a full moon.

Front

During ancient times, an eclipse was scary because people _________________. When the Moon's appearance made a drastic change, people really did not know what to expect.

Back

used the Moon and Sun to tell time and seasons.

Front

A full lunar eclipse

Back

occurs when the Earth passes directly in front of a full moon.

Front

During a partial lunar eclipse

Back

only a portion of the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow.

Front

It is not dangerous to look directly at the Moon during a lunar eclipse because the Moon is not giving off its own light.

Back

True

Front

The word eclipse comes from the Greek word meaning ___________.

Back

downfall

Front

More people on Earth can view a lunar eclipse than a solar eclipse.

Back

True

Front

Why Don’t Eclipses Happen Every Month?

Back

Eclipses only happen when the sun, moon and Earth all line up, at syzygy, most months, the lunar orbit carries the moon above or below the shadow of the Earth, and there is no lunar eclipse. The moon’s orbit is tilted about 5 degrees from the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the sun.