The Shadows of the Moon and Earth
Lunar eclipses
A lunar eclipse can only be seen when the Moon is full. Then the Sun illuminates the face of the Moon seen from the Earth. The observer may not see an eclipse every month as the Moon's orbital plane is inclined to the Earth's orbital plane by about 5 degrees. When the Sun, Earth and Moon are in alignment a lunar eclipse can be seen if the Moon is above the local horizon.
Solar eclipses
A solar eclipse can only be seen when the Moon is new. Then the Sun illuminates the face of the Moon not seen from the Earth. The observer may not see an eclipse every month as the Moon's orbital plane is inclined to the Earth's orbital plane by about 5 degrees. When the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment a solar eclipse can be seen over a narrow zone on the surface of the Earth when the Sun is above the local horizon.
Observing Eclipses
A lunar eclipse is probably easier to observe as normally travel is not required but it certainly is for all solar eclipses. A lunar eclipse can be seen from your back yard if the circumstances are right and the moon can be seen above your local horizon. A solar eclipse can only be observed in totality if you travel to that part of the globe where the narrow path of the moon's shadow can be seen.
for the 2006 Solar Eclipse in Turkey
for the eclipse Finder for most lunar and solar eclipses
for my home page to find anything on eclipses (well almost)
E-mail address
Web address
http://www.netspeed.com.au/minnah/LEO.html
Office phone
Australia +61 2 6292 8448
Analysis of the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 October 28
The Total Solar Eclipse expedition to Turkey in 2006 March 29
I am a research amateur astronomer specialising in solar and lunar eclipse observation, prediction and analysis. I have observed and analysed 48 lunar eclipses and travelled to and successfully observed total solar eclipses in Java (1983), New Guinea (1984), Bangka Island (1988) off the north coast of Java, Zambia (2001) in Africa and Ceduna (2002) in South Australia as well as the annular solar eclipse in Geralton (1999) in Western Australia.
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Last revised: 15 December 2004
24/7/04 2:45 PM