Day 2 notes

Ch. 1 second half

Motion of the Moon

and eclipses

Motion of the Moon and Phases of the Moon

• The development of the current model of the solar system began with careful measurement of the movement of the Sun and the Moon.

• To understand this, let’s review the motion and the phases of the Moon, as we currently understand them.

• When we watch the Moon, it’s shape changes from one night to the next:

From theastronomypicture of the day web site ( link )

Earth and Moon, separately

From Apollo 17 spacecraft From Earth

Earth and Moon, in one

picture from the Galileo space

probe as it traveled by

the Earth on its way to Jupiter.

Lunar Phases

Lunar Eclipse (there are many good web resources) (link)

Lunar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse

Solar Eclipse over China

Solar Eclipse over Zambia

sequence of photos

superimposedto show the movement of the Sun

Solar Eclipse over Antarctica

Solar Eclipse – composite picture

Solar Eclipse – composite picture (cropped)

Solar Eclipse Types

Penumbra and Umbra

Shadow of Moon seenfrom Mir space station

Animation of Moon eclipsing the Sun, as seen from inside the umbra.

Animation of the view from the dark side of the Moon, looking down on the Earth during a solar eclipse.

Eclipse Geometry is favorable close to the equinoxes.

Eclipse Tracks (also see NASA Eclipse page, Mr. Eclipse and Eclipser)

Web page at NASA devoted to this eclipse (link)

Example of a map of the eclipse path, showing the center line and boundaries of the region under the umbra (total) For the total eclipse of 29 March 2006

• Transits occur when a planet crosses between the Earth and the Sun, so we see a dark spot cross the Sun. This can only happen with Venus link or Mercury link.

• Occultations occur when the Moon blocks out (occults) a planet. link

To do:

• Get the textbook.

• Finish Ch. 1. Start Ch. 2 !

• Look at the syllabus and the dates.

• Mark your calendars for exam dates.

• First exam is exactly 2 weeks away!

• Enjoy the weekend.