What is a solar eclipse?

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(No Transcript)
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What is a solar eclipse? Solar Eclipse
Animation Solar Eclipse Video
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in a
direct line between Earth and the sun. The moon's
shadow travels over the Earth's surface and
blocks out the sun's light as seen from Earth.
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UMBRA Part of the moons shadow that is
centralized. The sky will darken like night and
there will be a total solar eclipse.
PENUMBRA Part of the moons shadow that is the
outer region. Part of the sun will be blocked
with a partial solar eclipse.
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Why dont we have a solar eclipse during each
new moon?! Moon Tilt Animation
The moons slight tilt (5o) in relation to
Earths path. It is usually above or below the
direct sight line to the sun.
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A Real TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
1999, Salzburg, Austria
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What is a lunar eclipse? Lunar Eclipse
Animation Lunar Eclipse Video
Basically, Earth's shadow blocks most of the
sunlight from directly illuminating all -- or a
portion -- of the moon's surface. The light bends
causing a concentrated red color.
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A Real LUNAR ECLIPSE
2008, in the US
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Eclipse Facts

• The moons shadow moves at 1700 km/hour (1,048
  mi/hr) .
• Maximum totality is approximately 7 ½ minutes.
• Every place on Earth will see a total solar
  eclipse about every 400 years.
• Solar eclipses occur more frequently than lunar
  eclipses ( by 53).
• There must be at least two solar eclipses every
  year. They can be total or partial
• Seven eclipses per year is the maximum 4 solar,
  3 lunar (1982, predicted 2485).