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06.04 Eclipses and Moon Phases Guided Notes

Objectives:
In the lesson, you will:
• explain what causes eclipses and how often they occur
• compare the two types of eclipses
• explain what causes moon phases
• describe each phase of the moon

Big Ideas:
Key Questions and Terms Notes
Focus Question: What causes lunar and solar eclipses?
Describe what causes a solar eclipse.
Describe what causes a lunar eclipse.
Why do lunar eclipses make the moon appear red in color?
Draw an example of a lunar eclipse.
Draw an example of a solar eclipse.
Focus Question: What causes the phases of the moon?

At any given time in space, how much of the moon is lit by the sun?
Describe the appearance of the moon and its position during each phase:
• New moon:
• Waxing crescent moon:
• First quarter moon:
• Waxing gibbous moon:
• Full moon:
• Waning gibbous moon:
• Third quarter moon:
• Waning crescent moon:
How are lunar phases different from eclipses?

Eclipses Video:
Key Questions and Terms Notes
When the moon passes between the sun and Earth, it can create a __________ eclipse.
When the disk of the moon masks the disk of the sun, it creates a _________ eclipse.
___________ eclipses occur when Earth passes between the sun and the moon.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon turns dark ______ due to the deviation of the sun's rays caused by Earth's atmosphere.
__________ eclipses occur more often and last longer.

1 answer

06.04 Eclipses and Moon Phases Guided Notes

Objectives:

  • Explain what causes eclipses and how often they occur.
  • Compare the two types of eclipses.
  • Explain what causes moon phases.
  • Describe each phase of the moon.

Big Ideas:

Key Questions and Terms

Focus Question: What causes lunar and solar eclipses?

  1. Describe what causes a solar eclipse:

    • A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light either fully or partially.

  2. Describe what causes a lunar eclipse:

    • A lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon, causing the Earth's shadow to fall on the moon.

  3. Why do lunar eclipses make the moon appear red in color?

    • Lunar eclipses cause the moon to appear red due to Rayleigh scattering of sunlight through the Earth’s atmosphere. Some of the sunlight refracts around the Earth and illuminates the moon with a reddish hue.

  4. Draw an example of a lunar eclipse:
    (Illustration: Diagram showing Earth, moon, and sun where Earth's shadow falls on the moon)

  5. Draw an example of a solar eclipse:
    (Illustration: Diagram showing the moon between the Earth and the sun blocking sunlight)

Focus Question: What causes the phases of the moon?

  1. At any given time in space, how much of the moon is lit by the sun?

    • Half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun; however, our perspective from Earth changes which part we see as illuminated.

  2. Describe the appearance of the moon and its position during each phase:

    • New moon:
      • The moon is between the Earth and the sun; it is not visible from Earth.
    • Waxing crescent moon:
      • A small sliver of the moon is illuminated, increasing in size.
    • First quarter moon:
      • Half of the moon is illuminated; it is one-quarter of the way through its cycle.
    • Waxing gibbous moon:
      • More than half of the moon is illuminated, approaching full moon.
    • Full moon:
      • The entire face of the moon is illuminated; it is directly opposite the sun.
    • Waning gibbous moon:
      • More than half is illuminated but decreasing; moving away from full moon.
    • Third quarter moon:
      • Half of the moon is illuminated again; it is three-quarters of the way through its cycle.
    • Waning crescent moon:
      • A small sliver is illuminated, decreasing in size as it approaches the new moon again.

  3. How are lunar phases different from eclipses?

    • Lunar phases are regular changes in the appearance of the moon due to its orbit around the Earth and the position of the sun. Eclipses are specific events where the sun, moon, and Earth align in a manner that one body casts a shadow on another.

Eclipses Video:

Key Questions and Terms

  1. When the moon passes between the sun and Earth, it can create a solar eclipse.
  2. When the disk of the moon masks the disk of the sun, it creates a total eclipse (or partial depending on the coverage).
  3. Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the sun and the moon.
  4. During a lunar eclipse, the moon turns dark red due to the deviation of the sun's rays caused by Earth's atmosphere.
  5. Lunar eclipses occur more often and last longer.