A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth gets in the way of the Sun's light reaching the Moon, making the Moon look dark!
What causes a lunar eclipse?
Imagine the Sun, Earth, and Moon are playing a game of cosmic tag! The Moon goes around (orbits) the Earth, and sometimes, the Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon. Because the Earth is so big, it casts a shadow. If the Moon moves into this shadow, we see a lunar eclipse.
- The Players: Sun, Earth, Moon
- The Setup: Earth lines up between the Sun and the Moon.
- The Action: Earth blocks the Sun's light from reaching the Moon.
- The Result: Earth's shadow makes the Moon look dark.
Why doesn't this happen every month?
The Moon's orbit around the Earth is a little tilted. This means that most of the time, the Moon passes above or below the Earth's shadow. But every so often, everything lines up perfectly! This usually happens about twice a year.
What does a lunar eclipse look like?
During a lunar eclipse, the Moon doesn't disappear completely. Instead, it often turns a reddish color. This is because some sunlight still reaches the Moon, bending around the Earth through its atmosphere (the air around our planet). The atmosphere filters out most of the blue light, leaving the red light, which then shines on the Moon. That's why lunar eclipses are sometimes called "blood moons."
Key Things to Remember:
- A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
- The Sun, Earth, and Moon must be lined up.
- The Moon might turn reddish during the eclipse.
- Lunar eclipses are safe to look at with your eyes!
