Hi there! Squeaks and I are super excited about August 21st. Do you know why? It’s because we’re going to have a solar eclipse! This means something really cool is going to happen to the sun. It will look dark for a little while because the moon will move right between the Earth and the sun, blocking it from our view. We haven’t seen this in two years!
A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets right in between the sun and the Earth. When this happens, the moon blocks out some of the sun’s light and casts a big shadow on the Earth. It doesn’t last long, just a few minutes, but it can make the sky look as dark as night even though it’s daytime!
There are different types of solar eclipses. A total solar eclipse is when the moon completely covers the sun. A partial solar eclipse is when the moon covers just a part of the sun, making it look like a cookie with a bite taken out of it.
Not everyone in the world can see a solar eclipse. Only people in the path of the moon’s shadow can see it. For example, during the eclipse on March 20th, people in Europe, especially in the northern parts, will get the best view. They’ll see the total eclipse, while others in Europe, Asia, and Africa will see a partial eclipse.
Remember, you should never look directly at a solar eclipse because the sun’s rays can hurt your eyes. Always use special glasses or other safe methods to watch it.
Besides solar eclipses, there are also lunar eclipses. “Solar” means sun, and “lunar” means moon. During a lunar eclipse, the moon goes dark because the Earth blocks the sunlight from reaching it. This can make the moon look red, which is why it’s sometimes called a “blood moon.”
Sometimes you can see the moon during the day. This happens because the moon orbits around the Earth, and as it moves, we can see different parts of it lit up by the sun. The moon takes about a month to orbit the Earth, and during this time, we see different phases of the moon, like the crescent, quarter, and full moon.
The moon goes through eight phases in a month. It starts with the new moon, where we can’t see it because the dark side is facing us. Then it moves to a crescent, quarter, gibbous, and finally a full moon. After the full moon, it goes back through gibbous, quarter, crescent, and returns to a new moon.
Each phase shows us a different amount of the moon’s lit-up side. This is why the moon looks like it’s changing shape, but it’s really just our view of it that’s changing.
Next time you’re outside, see if you can spot the moon during the day. Notice how it changes shape over the month. You can even draw pictures to track its phases!
Now that you know more about solar and lunar eclipses, are you ready for the solar eclipse on August 21st? Squeaks and I are going to learn more about it and we’ll share what we find out. Stay tuned!
Make Your Own Eclipse Model: Gather a flashlight, a small ball (like a tennis ball), and a larger ball (like a basketball). In a dark room, use the flashlight to represent the sun, the larger ball as the Earth, and the smaller ball as the moon. Shine the flashlight on the larger ball and move the smaller ball between the flashlight and the larger ball to create a shadow. Observe how the shadow falls on the larger ball and discuss what happens during a solar eclipse.
Track the Moon Phases: Over the next month, observe the moon each night and draw what you see. Use a calendar to mark the date and sketch the shape of the moon. Discuss how the moon’s appearance changes and why this happens. Try to identify the different phases, such as crescent, quarter, and full moon.
Daytime Moon Hunt: Spend some time outside during the day and try to spot the moon. When you find it, note the time and describe what it looks like. Discuss why we can sometimes see the moon during the day and how its position in the sky changes over time.
