Solar Eclipse

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Eclipse Noun

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[ih-klips]

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Eclipse

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An astronomical event where one celestial body is totally or partially obscured by another, or by the shadow of another.

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Example: This diagram shows a solar eclipse, where the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth and blocking the Sun's light.

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Celestial Body Noun

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[suh-les-chul bod-ee]

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Celestial Body

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A natural object existing in space, such as a planet, moon, or star, that is part of the universe.

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Example: This diagram shows several types of celestial bodies, including a star (the Sun), planets, and an asteroid belt, all part of our solar system.

Front

Solar Eclipse Noun

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[soh-ler ih-klips]

Back

Solar Eclipse

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An event that occurs when the new moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth.

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Example: This diagram shows a solar eclipse, where the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow (umbra and penumbra) onto Earth's surface.

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New Moon Noun

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[noo moon]

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New Moon

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The phase of the Moon when it is positioned between Earth and the Sun, making a solar eclipse possible.

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Example: This diagram shows that a New Moon occurs when the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun, with its unlit side facing Earth.

Front

Ecliptic Noun

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[ih-klip-tik]

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Ecliptic

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The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun, where celestial bodies must align for an eclipse to occur.

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Example: This diagram shows the ecliptic plane (Earth's orbital path) and how the Moon's orbit is tilted, which is why eclipses don't happen every month.

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Umbra Noun

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[uhm-bruh]

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Umbra

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The inner, cone-shaped, and fully shaded part of a shadow where all light from the source is blocked.

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Example: This diagram shows how the Moon, by blocking sunlight, casts a shadow on the Earth. The umbra is the darkest, central part of this shadow.

Front

Penumbra Noun

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[pi-nuhm-bruh]

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Penumbra

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The outer, lighter, and partially shaded region of a shadow where light from the source is only partially blocked.

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Example: This diagram shows how an object blocking a light source (like the Moon blocking the Sun) creates a shadow with a lighter outer region called the penumbra.

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Total Solar Eclipse Noun

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[toh-tl soh-ler ih-klips]

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Total Solar Eclipse

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A type of solar eclipse where the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon, visible only from within the Moon's umbra.

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Example: This diagram shows how the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow. The darkest part of the shadow, the umbra, causes a total solar eclipse.

Front

Partial Solar Eclipse Noun

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[pahr-shuhl soh-ler ih-klips]

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Partial Solar Eclipse

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A type of solar eclipse where only a portion of the Sun is blocked by the Moon, often appearing crescent-shaped.

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Example: This diagram shows the Moon casting a shadow on Earth. A partial solar eclipse is seen by observers in the lighter outer shadow (penumbra).

Front

Annular Eclipse Noun

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[an-yuh-ler ih-klips]

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Annular Eclipse

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A solar eclipse where the Moon is too far from Earth to cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring visible.

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Example: This diagram shows how an annular eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth but is far enough away that its lighter shadow (antumbra) hits Earth.