As the Moon crosses in or out of the umbra, observers can see the curve of Earth partially shadowing the Moon. As the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow (called the 'umbra') and travels through it, it takes on a beautiful dim red glow. ![]() However, on average 1.5 times a year, the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, and the Moon is completely hidden in the Earth’s shadow – we call this a 'lunar eclipse. When the Moon is on the far side of the Earth from the Sun, the three bodies do not lie in a straight line instead, the Moon is located slightly above the Earth and so it can still be illuminated by the Sun, so we see a full moon. ![]() ![]() These stages are called the 'phases of the Moon' (see Image 1). The shape of the Moon that you see depends on both where you are on Earth and at which point the Moon is in its 28-day (one month) cycle around Earth.Įvery month the Moon completes a cycle, starting as a complete circle (the full moon), gradually shrinking night-by-night until it has become invisible (the new moon), then swelling to a full circle again. Lunar Eclipses: Although the Moon often shines brightly in the night sky, it isn't actually emitting its own light, it simply reflects light from the Sun.
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