Station 1
Research – Using your search engine, research: How many solar and lunar eclipses occur in one
calendar year? Why aren’t there eclipses at every full and new moon?
Q1- According to NASA, two to four solar eclipses occur each year, while lunar eclipses are less frequent. "In any one
calendar year, the maximum number of eclipses is four solar and three lunar," the agency said.
Q2- the orbit of the moon is tilted relative to the orbit of the Earth around the sun, so the moon often passes below or
above Earth. At those times, it does not cross the line between the sun and the Earth, and therefore does not create a
solar eclipse. There are just two times a year in the Earth's orbit when there is a possibility of a total solar eclipse.
The plane of the moon’s orbit is inclined at 5 degrees to the ecliptic (Earth’s orbital plane).
The moon takes about a month to orbit around the Earth. If the moon orbited in the same plane as
the ecliptic – Earth’s orbital plane – we would have a minimum of two eclipses every month.
There’d be an eclipse of the moon at every full moon. And, one fortnight (approximately two
weeks) later there’d be an eclipse of the sun at new moon for a total of at least 24 eclipses every
year.
But the moon’s orbit is inclined to Earth’s orbit by about five degrees. Twice a month the moon
intersects the ecliptic – Earth’s orbital plane – at points called nodes. If the moon is going from
south to north in its orbit, it’s called an ascending node. If the moon is going from north to south,
it’s a descending node. If the full moon or new moon sweeps appreciably close to one of these
nodes, then an eclipse is not only possible – but inevitable.
Station 2
Explain yourself – Write down an opinion to the following question in paragraph form.
Each year, the Moon moves further and further away from Earth. In your opinion, what would be the
consequences of this for solar and lunar eclipses?
It would be difficult for eclipses to occur
Unscramble the following words:
1. PILEECS - eclipse
2. LORAS- solar
3. NALUR- lunar
4. LUFL ONOM- full moon
5. EWN OOMN- new moon
6. SHOREOPCEHRM- chromosphere
7. AROCON- corona
8. BARMU - umbra
9. YALIBS ADEBS- bailees beads
10. MAIDDON GRIN - diamond ring
Station 3
Applicability Reading – Read the following information article and answer the associated questions
found below
Applicability Reading – Total Solar Eclipse
Instructions: Read the following information article and answer the associated questions found
below in the Applicability Reading section of your passport.
Total solar eclipses occur when the Moon comes between the Sun and
the Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow (the umbra) on Earth.
The darkest point of the eclipse is almost as dark as night. During a
total eclipse of the Sun, the Moon covers the entire disk of the Sun.
In partial and annular solar eclipses, the Moon blocks only parts of the
Sun. Eclipses are named after their darkest phase. If a solar eclipse is
total at any point on Earth, it is called a total solar eclipse, even though
it's seen as a partial eclipse in most parts of the world.
5 Phases
There are 5 stages in a total solar eclipse:
1. Partial eclipse begins (first contact): The Moon's shadow starts becoming visible over the Sun's
disc. The sun looks as if a bite has been taken from it.
2. Total eclipse begins (second contact): Almost the entire disc of the Sun is covered by the Moon.
Observers in the path of the Moon's umbra may be able to see Baily's beads and the diamond ring
effect.
3. Maximum eclipse or totality: The Moon completely covers the disc of the Sun. Only the
Sun's corona is visible. This is the most dramatic stage of a Total Solar Eclipse. At this time, the
Sky goes dark, temperatures fall drastically and birds and animals often go quiet.
4. Total eclipse ends (third contact): The Moon's shadow starts moving away and the Sun
reappears.
5. Partial eclipse ends (fourth contact): The Moon stops overlapping the Sun's disc. The eclipse
ends at this stage.
Protect Your Eyes!
Never look directly at the Sun, eclipsed or otherwise, without proper protective eyewear. The Sun’s
UV radiation can burn the retinas in your eyes, and cause permanent damage or even blindness.
The only way to safely see a solar eclipse is to wear protective eclipse glasses or to project an image
of the eclipsed Sun using a pinhole projector
Special Sights at Totality
Certain phenomena can only be seen during a Total Solar Eclipse:
Baily's beads: Seen about 10-15 seconds before and after totality, Baily's beads are little bead-like
blobs of light at the edge of the Moon. These happen because the gaps in the mountains and
valleys on the Moon's surface allow sunlight to pass through in some places but not others.
Diamond ring: As the Moon moves to cover the entire disc of the Sun, Baily's beads disappear,
leaving one last bead a few seconds before totality. At this point in the eclipse, the Sun's corona
forms a ring around the Moon. The ring around the Moon and the leftover Baily's bead gives the
appearance of a diamond ring.
The Sun's chromosphere: The Sun's atmosphere has 3 layers: the photosphere, the
chromosphere and the corona. The chromosphere, which gives out a reddish glow can only be
seen for a few seconds right after the diamond ring disappears during a total eclipse of the Sun.
The Sun's corona: Like the chromosphere, the Sun's corona is only visible during a Total Solar
Eclipse. It can be seen as a faint ring of rays surrounding the dark Moon during totality.
Shadow bands: About one minute before and after totality, moving wavy lines of alternating light
and dark can be seen on plain-colored surfaces. These shadow bands are the result of the light
emitted from a thin solar crescent being refracted by the Earth's atmosphere.
Applicability Reading – Total Solar Eclipse Questions
1. What is a Total Solar Eclipse?
The Moon completely covers the disc of the Sun. Only the Sun's corona is visible. This is
the most dramatic stage of a Total Solar Eclipse. At this time, the Sky goes dark,
temperatures fall drastically and birds and animals often go quiet.
2. What occurs during the Maximum eclipse or totality phase?
: Like the chromosphere, the Sun's corona is only visible during a Total Solar Eclipse. It can
be seen as a faint ring of rays surrounding the dark Moon during totality
3. What are the consequences of UV radiation for human eyes?
UV radiation can burn the retinas in your eyes, and cause permanent damage or even
blindness.
4. What is the chromosphere and when can it be seen?
The Sun's atmosphere has 3 layers: the photosphere, the chromosphere and the corona. The
chromosphere, which gives out a reddish glow can only be seen for a few seconds right after
the diamond ring disappears during a total eclipse of the Sun.
Station 4
Test Your Knowledge – Answer the following 5 multiple-choice questions, then provide a written
explanation for how/why you came to your conclusions.
Test Your Knowledge
Instructions: Choose the correct answer . Follow the answer with an explanation for how/why you
chose it.
1. A solar eclipse is when the:
a) Sun, Moon and Earth are in the same position.
b) Moon blocks the Sun from the Earth.
c) Earth blocks the Sun from the Moon.
d) Sun blocks the Moon from the Earth.
e) none of the above.
2. A lunar eclipse is when the:
a) Earth blocks the Sun from the Moon.
b) Moon blocks the Sun from the Earth.
c) Sun blocks the Moon from the Earth.
d) Quarter Moon is visible from the Earth.
e) Moon is not visible from the Earth.
3. Solar eclipses are very rare, and only last a few minutes because:
a) the Moon is so much bigger than the Sun.
b) the Moon is so much smaller than the Earth.
c) the Moon is so much smaller than the Sun.
d) they only occur during quarter moons.
e) the Moon moves too fast.
4. Solar eclipses only happen during a new moon because during a new Moon:
a) the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun.
b) the Sun passes between the Earth and the Moon.
c) the Earth passes between the Moon and Sun.
d) the Moon moves faster.
e) the Earth moves slower.
5. The Moon appears:
a) blue during a total lunar eclipse.
b) red during a total lunar eclipse.
c) smaller during a total lunar eclipse.
d) white during a total lunar eclipse.
e) bigger during a total lunar eclipse.
Station 5
Learn from the expert – Using a classroom computer or your own device, watch the following video
clip and answer the associated questions. You may stop, rewind and restart as often as you like
during the time frame.
Learn From The Expert
Instructions: Go to https://goo.gl/RfPBmV (the video can also be accessed via the QR code below)
and watch the video. While you are watching the video, answer each question and place your answer
in the Learn From The Expert section of your passport. You may re-watch the video as many times
as you like in the allotted time. Furthermore, you may re-watch the video while you are at one of the
rest stations, so make sure you record the URL on your passport.
1. What is an eclipse?
It is the obscuring of light from one celestial body. Obscuring means dark
2. During a solar eclipse, why does the sun get blocked?
Because of moon that passes in between the earth and sun blocking the sun for the earth.
3. During a lunar eclipse, why does the moon get darker?
Because the earth comes in between the sun and the moon blocking light making the moon
appear dark.
4. During a solar eclipse, what phase is the moon in?
New moon phase.
5. During a total lunar eclipse, what phase is the moon in?
Full moon
6. During a total lunar eclipse, how will the tides be?
High tide.
7. Why is a complete solar eclipse only seen by a small portion of the Earth?
Because moon has a small surface area as compared to earth and only casts a shadow on a
small portion of earth.
