It just so happens that the Sun’s diameter is about 400 times larger than the Moon, but the Moon is 400 times closer than the Sun. This makes the Sun and Moon appear to be about the same size in the sky as viewed from Earth. This is also why the eclipse thing is such a big deal for our planet. You’re about to make your own eclipses as you learn about syzygy.


A total eclipse happens about once every year when the Moon blocks the Sun’s light. Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are lined up in a straight line with the Earth in the. Lunar eclipses last hours, whereas solar eclipses last only minutes.


Materials


  • 2 index cards
  • Flashlight or Sunlight
  • Tack or needle
  • Black paper
  • Scissors
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Comments

7 Responses to “Eclipses and Transits”

  1. rhcristonsen says:

    Why does the moon sometimes move further away and sometimes closer to the earth?

  2. navyjane86 says:

    When will the next double transit begin?

  3. Yes transits happen a lot, but not as often as eclipses. Mercury transits once every 7 years, Venus does it in pairs 8 years apart, like this: 1874 & 1882, 2004 & 2012, 2117 & 2125…

  4. youngsurrender says:

    That is amazing! Will any planets in front of us transit the surface of the earth?

  5. tinafryar says:

    Cool!