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WorksheetsEclipses
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 31mins
When one celestial body moves into the path of another, blocking its light, the event is known as an eclipse. There are two types of eclipses. A solar eclipse is when he moon blocks the sun. A lunar eclipse is when the Earth blocks the sun's light from reaching the moon. Because objects in space travel according to a pattern, solar and lunar eclipses are predictable. So you can find out when the next eclipse is happening and whether you can see it from where you live.
Which of the following is NOT true about eclipses?
They occur when light is blocked
They can be lunar or solar
They are unpredictable events
They can be seen from Earth
The Earth travels around the sun in a curved path called an orbit. Similarly, the moon orbits the Earth. The position of the sun and the moon determine what phase the moon is in. Since the moon's orbit is tilted, it usually passes slightly above or below the line between the sun and the Earth. That's why there isn't an eclipse every day and night.
Which of the following best describes the moon's orbit?
It moves along a tilted curve
It often goes directly between the Earth and the sun
It travels around the sun
It moves in a straight line
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the sun and a full moon. When viewed from the right part of Earth, you will see the shadow of the Earth fall across the surface of the moon. During a lunar eclipse, the moon appears to be a reddish-orange color. Lunar eclipses only happen at night.
Which of the following gives a clue that a lunar eclipse is occurring?
The moon looks like it's red
It is daytime
There is no shadow on the moon
The moon is between the sun and the Earth
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes directly between the sun and Earth. Solar eclipses occur during a new moon. The moon blocks the sun's light from reaching Earth; the sky appears to darken as the moon moves in front of the sun and then lightens as the moon moves away.
During a solar eclipse the sun's ultra-hot corona, or outer atmosphere, is visible as it splays far across the sky. The word "corona" comes from the Latin word for "crown." The corona looks like a crown of flames that encircles the sun.
NEVER EVER look at a solar eclipse without a proper viewing device, it could burn your eyes - and even permanently blind you. Generally, never look right at the sun!
During a solar eclipse, the _______ blocks the _________.
moon, sun
Earth, sun
Earth, moon
corona, Earth
An eclipse can be total or partial. Total eclipses are very rare. In order to experience a total solar eclipse, you must be within the moon's umbra, or shadow. During a partial eclipse, the sun looks like a big crescent moon.
It is estimated that from any spot on Earth, a total solar eclipse can only be viewed once every 370 years. But if you're willing to travel, you don't have to wait that long. There's a solar eclipse somewhere on Earth nearly every year.
A total solar eclipse:
Happens 370 times a year
Can only be experienced from inside the moon's umbra.
Is easily viewed from anywhere on Earth.
Causes the sun to look like a crescent moon.
When does a lunar eclipse occur?
At night
When the earth's shadow covers the moon
When the earth comes between the sun and a full moon
All of the above
During a lunar eclipse, what color does the moon appear?
black
red-orange
yellow-green
white
A solar eclipse only happens during a ______ moon.
new
crescent
gibbous
full
A lunar eclipse only happens during a _________ moon.
new
crescent
gibbous
full
Which kind of eclipse does the picture show?
lunar
solar
Which kind of eclipse does the picture show?
solar
lunar
True or False: You must be in the moon's shadow to see a total solar eclipse?
True
False
What do we call the sun's outer atmosphere that you see during a solar eclipse?
an umbra
a corona
an orbit
a shadow
Why isn't there a lunar eclipse every night?
because lunar eclipses only happen during a new moon
because the moon's orbit is tilted, so the sun, moon and earth don't line up straight every night
because the moon disappears for a certain amount of time each year
because they only happen when the moon blocks the sun's light from reaching earth
Which of the following is NOT true about a total solar eclipse?
It can be viewed once a year from every spot on Earth
It is dangerous to look at without proper device
When it happens, the moon blocks all the sun except the corona.
You must be within moon's umbra to see it
