Planets and Moons  ID: 11516

Understanding Lunar Eclipses

Released on April 8, 2014
What can cause the full Moon to quickly darken, then glow red? A lunar eclipse: a striking display of orbital mechanics that occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. To learn more, watch the video below.
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It's not often that we get a chance to see our planet's shadow, but a lunar eclipse gives us a fleeting glimpse, as the Earth's shadow is projected onto the full Moon over the course of a few hours. Though a lunar eclipse can be seen only at night, it's worth staying up to catch the show.

For complete transcript, click here.

Watch this video on the NASAexplorer YouTube channel.

 

Related

Lunar Eclipses and the Moon's Orbit
Lunar Eclipse of April 15, 2014 As Viewed from the Moon
LRO and the Lunar Eclipse of April 15, 2014: Telescopic View
Need To Know: Lunar Eclipse and LRO
LRO and the Lunar Eclipse of April 15, 2014: Shadow View

For More Information

http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/north-america-to-experience-total-lunar-eclipse/#.U0QZq427nUi

Credits

Ernie Wright (USRA): Lead Animator
Dan Gallagher (USRA): Video Editor
Dan Gallagher (USRA): Producer
John Keller (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET): Project Support
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11516

Mission:
LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

This item is part of this series:
Narrated Movies

Goddard TV Tape:
G2014-032 -- Understanding Lunar Eclipses

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Lunar
SVS >> Moon
SVS >> LRO
SVS >> Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
SVS >> Eclipse
SVS >> Lunar Eclipse
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons