Current Events

  • Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm
    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm rep...Read more

    x

    Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm

    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm repeatedly. Daily levels of CO2 can vary due to weather, and there are seasonal trends as well. The level of atmospheric greenhouse gases continues to increase, now over 120 ppm since the Industrial Revolution began. For more on the Keeling Curve, see http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/. Find out more about greenhouse gases and warming.
  • Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley
    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Io...Read more

    x

    Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley

    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. On May 20th, a massive tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, devastating communities - destroying over 100 homes and hitting two elementary schools and a hospital - with many casualties and deaths. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues suffering from these storms. For more on the May 20th storms, see the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Storm Report.
  • Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education
    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of ...Read more

    x

    Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education

    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of sustainability. Here is a link to the one-page bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2366_00_0000.pdf. See report on Bloomberg News.
This image explains how the Earth's shadow causes a lunar eclipse. Notice the difference between the umbra and the penumbra.
Click on image for full size
Windows to the Universe original image

Related links:

More about the phases of the Moon

Lunar Eclipse of 2000

Table of recent and future lunar eclipses

Lunar Eclipses

A lunar eclipse is when the Earth's shadow blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon. It can only happen when there is a full moon. The Sun, Earth and Moon all need to be in a straight line too.

The Earth's shadow has two parts called the penumbra and the umbra. The umbra is much darker than the penumbra. When the Moon passes through the umbra, it is called a total eclipse.

When only part of the Moon passes through the umbra, it's called a partial eclipse. And when the Moon goes through the penumbra, it's called a penumbral eclipse. Have you seen an eclipse?

Last modified June 20, 2001 by Jennifer Bergman.

Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store!

Learn about Earth and space science, and have fun while doing it! The games section of our online store includes a climate change card game and the Traveling Nitrogen game!

Windows to the Universe Community

News

Opportunities

Upcoming W2U Events
Join Today - Benefits,
No Ads!
Special Offers for Teachers
Member Benefits
Teacher Newsletter
Partnership Opportunities

You might also be interested in:

Traveling Nitrogen Classroom Activity Kit

Check out our online store - minerals, fossils, books, activities, jewelry, and household items!...more

Lunar Eclipse January 20, 2000

There's a lunar eclipse this week! Thursday night, all of North America will see the eclipse. It starts at 10:00 pm Eastern Time. A lunar eclipse is different than a solar eclipse. During a lunar eclipse,...more

Total Lunar Eclipse

There will be an eclipse of the Moon on Thursday night, May 15, 2003. The shadow of the Earth will fall on the Moon, and the Moon will get dark! The Moon will not be so dark that you can't see it. The...more

Eclipse of the Moon

There will be an eclipse of the Moon on Saturday night, November 8, 2003. The shadow of the Earth will fall on the Moon, and the Moon will get dark! The Moon will not be so dark that you can't see it....more

Lunar Eclipse in October 2004

There will be an eclipse of the Moon on Wednesday night, October 27, 2004 (or the morning of the 28th if you are in Europe or Africa). The shadow of the Earth will fall on the Moon, and the Moon will get...more

Universal Time

When it is noon where you live, it is midnight on the opposite side of the world. Usually when we think of time, we mean "the time of day where I live". If we say something happened at 9 AM, we mean it...more

Shop Windows to the Universe

Science, Evolution, and Creationism, by the National Academies, focuses on teaching evolution in today's classrooms. Check out the other publications in our online store.

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation and NASA, our Founding Partners (the American Geophysical Union and American Geosciences Institute) as well as through Institutional, Contributing, and Affiliate Partners, individual memberships and generous donors. Thank you for your support! NASA AGU AGI NSF