While there are many obvious aspects of the sky that change regularly, the rapid
ID: 105314 • Letter: W
Question
While there are many obvious aspects of the sky that change regularly, the rapidly changing Moon is amongst the most noticeable and significant-–and fortunately, amongst the most straightforward to understand. As clearly as you can, explain (don't list) the cycle of lunar phases and total eclipses of the Sun and Moon. Explain why eclipses are rare events, specifically, why do they not happen every month? You may find it helpful to use sketches to make your points clear, but note that figures and examples do not replace a clear discussion of the physical geometry!
Explanation / Answer
As the earth continuously rotate around the sun,the moon also rotate around the sun in its own path in the solar system.
When the moon comes in between the earth and the sun and all the three lie in a straight line a lunar eclipse is said to occur and at this situation the earth is said to hide the moon and when the earth fully hides the moon,full eclipse is said to have occured.
Similarly when the moon is said to hide the sun a solar eclipse is said to occur. This type of eclipses does not occur every month but once or twice in a year because the moon and the earth rotate very slowly that they complete one full rotation only after 365days. During these days all the three would meet only once in a straight line.
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