Question

Describe in detail the phases of the moon. Detail the condition required for an eclipse. Include in your description the following: Phase of the Moon required for an Solar eclipse. Phase of the Moon required for an Lunar eclipse. Conditions required for a partial eclipse. Post your response in two paragraphs of six to eight sentences. Be sure to use the words umbra, penumbra, nodes, and orbital inclination in your response

Answer 1

The Moon completes one complete Rotation when it completes one orbit around the Earth, so we always see the same side of the Moon.

There are 8 major phases of a moon:

(1) New Moon : In this phase, the Moon cannot be seen and this only occurs when the Moon is directly between the Earth and the sun.

(2) Waxing Crescent Moon : In this phase the Moon looks like crescent and can be seen partially, less than half moon.

(3) First Quater Moon : This is the first Half moon in the phase, in this stage we can see half lit portion of the moon.

(4) Waxing Gibbous Moon : In this phase we can see about 3/4 th of the moon, ie more than half of the moon will be lit, but the moon will not be completely visible.

(5) Full Moon : At this stage we can see the complete moon, and this stage occurs when the Moon is opposite side of the Earth from the Sun.

(6) Waning Gibbous Moon : This is similar to Waxing Gibbous Moon, in which more than half portion of the moon will be lit.

(7) Last Quarter Moon : This will be the second time when the Moon is half visible.

(8) Waning Crescent Moon : In this stage less than 1/4 th of the moon is visible, it will be like a crescent which will be similar to the Waxing Crescent Moon stage.

A Solar Eclipse occurs when Moon is between Earth and the Sun, and this can only occur during the new moon phase. In Solar Eclipse the Earth is behind Moon's shadow, so Earth is in the Umbra Region of the Moon, and the Solar Eclipse is complete when it comes to the Penumbra Region.

A Lunar Eclipse occurs the Moon is in opposite side of the Earth from Sun, and this can only occur when the Moon is in Full Moon phase. In Lunar Eclipse the Moon is in Earth's Shadow ie. the Moon is in the Umbra Region of Earth, and the Eclipse is complete when it comes to the Penumbra Region.

The Eclipse occurs when the Moon is at either of the Nodes. There are two Nodes in Lunar Orbit.