07 Moon

Question 1

What is the Moon?

Answer 1

Closest celestial object to Earth

A type of satellite (orbits a planet)

Non-luminous (the light we see is a reflection of sunlight)

Four times smaller than the Earth.

Average distance of 384 000 km away from Earth

Question 2

What happens during a total solar eclipse?

Answer 2

During a total eclipse, only the outer atmosphere of the Sun (the corona) remains visible.

Only casts a small shadow on Earth’s surface (since the moon is small) so observers must be located along the lunar shadow path, which is only a few dozen kilometres wide

Question 3

What happens during a partial solar eclipse?

Answer 3

Partial solar eclipses occur when the Moon does not cover the entire Sun.

Partial eclipses should be viewed through a suitable solar filter or by projection, and not with the naked eye.

The Sun’s powerful rays can damage your eyes when it is not fully hidden behind the Moon.

Question 4

What happens in a lunar eclipse?

Answer 4

Occurs when Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon

During a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon passes through Earth’s shadow.

If only part of the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow, a partial lunar eclipse occurs.

Question 5

Spring tides are…

Answer 5

large tides form when the Sun and the Moon are lined up with the Earth. The amount of enhancement in Earth’s tides is about the same when the Sun and Moon are lined up on opposite sides of the Earth

*not associated with season of spring

Question 6

Neap tides are…

Answer 6

the Sun and Moon interfere with each other in producing tidal bulges and tides are generally weaker