Understanding Eclipses and Orbital Mechanics

How many times larger is the Sun compared to the Moon?

• 200 times

• 400 times

• 100 times

• 300 times

What shape is the Moon's orbit around the Earth?

• Hyperbola

• Parabola

• Ellipse

• Perfect circle

What term is used when the Moon is closest to the Earth?

• Perigee

• Nadir

• Apogee

• Zenith

What causes a solar eclipse?

• The Moon blocks sunlight from reaching the Earth

• The Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon

• The Sun moves behind the Earth

• The Sun moves behind the Moon

Why don't we experience a solar and lunar eclipse every month?

• Due to the tilt of the Moon's orbit relative to the ecliptic

• Due to the rotation of the Sun

• Because of the Moon's elliptical orbit

• Because the Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular

What is an 'eclipse season'?

• A specific month dedicated to observing eclipses

• A mythological term with no scientific basis

• A period when eclipses cannot occur

• A time when conditions are right for eclipses to occur

What type of solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is at Apogee?

• Annular Solar Eclipse

• Total Solar Eclipse

• Partial Solar Eclipse

• Hybrid Solar Eclipse

How long can a total solar eclipse last?

• Up to 7 minutes

• Exactly 10 minutes

• More than 15 minutes

• Less than 5 minutes

What is the term used for the darkest part of the Moon's shadow during an eclipse?

• Antumbra

• Barycenter

• Penumbra

• Umbra

What phenomenon causes the Moon to appear red during a lunar eclipse?

• The Moon's surface reflecting the Sun's red light

• The Moon passing through the Earth's shadow

• Sunlight bending around the Earth and filtering through the atmosphere

• A rare type of solar flare