^S<o^^st\R Eclipses

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A total eclipse pf the sun (June
8, 1918)."'-As seen from the earth,
the moon covers the sun's visi-
ble disk, so it is possible to
view the sun's outer atmosphere.
(Courtesy Lick Observatory)
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(km) wide on the earth. Only people in the nar-
row band as it sweeps across the earth can see
a total solar eclipse. Those just outside this
band get only a partial eclipse.
An eclipse of the moon occurs when the
moon passes directly through the shadow cast
by the earth (Fig. 1.21). Then the sun's illumina-
tion is cut off from the moon (Fig. 1.22). A total
eclipse of the moon can take place only when
the moon is full; that is, when the earth lies be-
tween the sun and the moon. Again, the moon
must also be close to the ecliptic; otherwise it'll
miss the earth's shadow.
Eclipses occur less frequently than the
other celestial events described in this chapter.
Their spectacular nature sets them apart and
has motivated people to study them. The
Greeks, for one, found that eclipses were pre-
dictable from the motions of the sun and moon
in the sky; They also noted that solar eclipses
demonstrate that the moon must be; closer to
the earth than the sun. Therefore the sun must
be larger than the moon.
If you've been puzzled about why the suh's
path relative to the stars is called the ecliptic, it
should now become clear: Only when the moon
lies on or close to the ecliptic can eclipses occur.

-,. •••.• ' • . . . - - • ..• - . - , . . '....-. .- ,.--.,.•

Alignment of moon, sun, and •:

earth for a total solar eclipse to
occur. The moon must be new
and on or very close to the
ecliptic as viewed from the
earth. The length of the ntoon's
central shadow is usually long
enough to hit the earth. A total
eclipse can be seen by people in
the path where the central f
shadow hits the earth. ^

1.20
The path off the moon in the
sky, relative to the/ ecliptic, as
seen from the earth. The
moon's path is tiltecThbout 5°
with rexpert tn the erfiptic and
t n* "Hi*f* ''
(called nodes,).

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