The Earth, Sun & Moon

1. Phases of the Moon

2. Lunar & Solar Eclipses
3. Ancient Measurements
of our Sun & Moon

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 1

 Astronomy
Misconception

Phases of the Moon are

caused by the shadow
of the Earth on the Moon

Phases of the Moon are

caused by our changing
view of the illuminated
side of the Moon

• ½ Moon is always illuminated

by the Sun
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 2
Phases of the Moon
• caused by its orbital motion around the Earth
• repeat every 29 ½ days

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 3

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 4
 You can tell the moon phase by
- looking at its face
- observing what time it rises/sets

Full Moon
New Moon
Rises ~ sunset
Sets ~ sunrise Rises ~ sunrise
Sets ~ sunset

First Quarter Moon

Rises ~ noon
10 Sept 2003 SolarSets
System~- midnight
C.C.Lang 5
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 6
Synchronous Rotation
moon takes exactly the same amount of time to orbit Earth as it does to rotate

 no“dark side” of the Moon

Sept
10 each2003
location experiences about 14 days
Solar System of daylight and 14 days of night.
- C.C.Lang 7
The sides of the Moon
PRS quiz

the “near” side: side we see the “far” side: side we never see
from Earth; smooth with lunar from Earth; highly cratered with
‘maria’(former
10 Sept 2003 lav Solar System - C.C.Lang extreme coloration changes8
 Moon at Perigee and Apogee
Distance: 359,861 km Distance: 405,948 km

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 9

 Check Your Knowledge Questions
1. If you observe the moon to be rising at sunset, what
phase is it?
1. Full
2. First Quarter
3. New
4. Third Quarter

2. If you observe the moon to be rising around midnight,

what phase is it?
1. Full
2. First Quarter
3. New
4. Third Quarter
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 10
 ECLIPSES
• one of the most striking
astronomy events

• happen when one object

blocks another
- Moon, Sun, Earth

• two types:
1. LUNAR eclipse (common)
2. SOLAR eclipse (rare!)

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 11

 LUNAR ECLIPSE
Moon passes through Earth’s shadow

normally, moon would appear FULL

during a lunar eclipse, moon appears dim
(red in color)
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 12
 Time-lapse picture of a total lunar eclipse

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10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 14
 SOLAR ECLIPSE
Earth passes through Moon’s shadow
From Earth, appears that Moon covers Sun

normally, moon would appear NEW

during a solar eclipse, part or all of the Sun
is blocked out
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 15
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 16
 Total Solar Eclipse
- Sun’s corona (thin, outer gases) is visible
- Time to study chromosphere, corona during eclipse

Why do eclipses not happen at every

FULL and NEW moon (2x month!) ?

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 17

 The orbital planes of Earth/Moon are not exactly aligned
 5 degree difference makes eclipses rare!
solar eclipses: 2-5 a year (half are total) lunar eclipses: 2-3 a year (half are total)

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10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 19
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10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 21
 Cassini's laws
Rotation of the Moon is coordinated with its
movement around of the Earth
(resonance 1:1) and described by three Cassini's
laws (1693).
1. The Moon rotates with constant angular
velocity
2. The poles of lunar equator, ecliptic and a
lunar orbit lay in one plane (Cassini's plane). The
ascending node of a lunar orbit coincides with the
descending node of lunar equator
3. The plane of lunar equator is inclined by the
constant
10 Sept 2003
angle I=1,57 to a plane of ecliptic.
о System - C.C.Lang
Solar 22
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 23
Lunar eclipses can be either total, partial, or annular, depending on the
alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

darkest part of eclipse = umbra

partial eclipse = penumbra

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 24

Solar eclipses also can be either total, partial, or annular, depending on
the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.

- umbra will hit Earth on one small area

where eclipse is total
- as Earth rotates, this small area will move

darkest part of eclipse = umbra

partial eclipse = penumbra
10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 25
 Annular Solar Eclipse

• the distance between the

Moon and the Earth changes
slightly during the Moon’s orbit

• when the Moon is farthest from

the Earth (apogee), then the
solar eclipse will be annular –
the Moon does not completely
cover up the Sun

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 26

 Total Solar Eclipse 2001
Zambia, Africa
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 When the moon is new or full, the gravitational
forces of the sun and moon are pulling at the
same side of the earth. (See the diagram below.)
This occurrence creates the extra large "spring"
tides.

10 Sept 20 Solar System - CC.Lang 28

When the moon is at first and third quarter, the
gravitational forces of the sun and moon are
pulling at 90 degrees from each other. (see the
diagram below.) This occurrence yeilds little net
tides called neap tides.

10 Sept 2003 Solar System - C.C.Lang 29

 Tidal Tales
Every few years people that measure such things (chronologists?) need
to add a leap second to the year. The Earth's rotation is decelerating at a
rate of about 0.002 seconds per day per century.

The Earth will eventually stop slowing down – when it’s rotation is
equal to the moon’s orbital period !!!

The Proxigean Tide occurs when the Moon is at its closest point in its
orbit to the Earth and in its New or Full Moon phase. At this time, its
tidal effect on the Earth is maximum. The times when this will happen
often coincide with major coastal flooding events. Between 1997 and
2020 there will be 102 times when this will happen.

The moon shows the same face to the Earth because it was deformed by
Earth’s gravity
10 Sept 2003 when it was still molten.
Solar System Earth uses this “memory” to30
- C.C.Lang