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How does lunar eclipse occurs?
How does lunar eclipse occurs?
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A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, creating a shadow that falls on the Moon’s surface. This alignment happens during a specific phase of the Moon called the “full moon” phase.
To understand the process, let’s break it down into three types of lunar eclipses:
1. Total Lunar Eclipse: In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon entirely. During this event, the Moon passes through the central region of the Earth’s shadow, known as the umbra. The Earth’s atmosphere refracts some sunlight, bending it around the Earth and allowing indirect sunlight to reach the Moon. As a result, the Moon often appears reddish or orange, earning the term “blood moon.”
2. Partial Lunar Eclipse: In a partial lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks only a portion of the Sun’s light from reaching the Moon. The Moon passes through the Earth’s penumbra, the outer part of the shadow where only a partial blockage occurs. This causes a section of the Moon to become darkened or appear dimmer.
3. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: In a penumbral lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through the Earth’s penumbra but does not enter the umbra. The penumbra is the outer region of the Earth’s shadow where sunlight is only partially blocked. During this type of eclipse, the Moon may appear slightly darker or have a subtle shading effect.
The occurrence of a lunar eclipse depends on the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Since the Moon’s orbit is slightly tilted relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, lunar eclipses do not happen every month. They occur when the Moon is in or near the plane of Earth’s orbit and during a full moon phase.
It’s worth noting that lunar eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye, unlike solar eclipses, which require special precautions. Lunar eclipses can be observed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth where the Moon is visible during the event.