Lunar eclipses are always eclipses of a full moon. that is, the moon is always seen full just before and after the Earth's shadow passes over it. why is this?Why can't we never have a lunar eclipse when the moon is in its crescent or half moon phase?
by 
samuel86
ANSWERS: 1
-
To create the shadow three objects must be queued up in sequence: The Sun The Earth The Moon The Sun, as the source of the light, sends light waves past The Earth where some of the waves end up being blocked. The subsequent shadow on the moon is those light waves being blocked by the back side of the Earth. To see a full moon the three bodies must also be in the same queue. There is not an eclipse each time there is a full moon, but there must be a full moon every time there is an eclipse.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC