Hi there! I’m Jessi, and today we’re exploring the wonders of the night sky from the observatory. You don’t always need a telescope to see amazing things up there. One of the coolest sights is the moon, which changes its appearance throughout the month. Sometimes, it looks like a crescent, and other times, it’s big and round, glowing brightly in the night sky. You might even spot the moon during the day!
Have you ever seen a red moon? This happens during a special event called a lunar eclipse. The word “lunar” relates to the moon, and an “eclipse” is when one object blocks another. So, a lunar eclipse is when the Earth gets in the way of the sun’s light, casting a shadow on the moon.
The moon orbits, or goes around, the Earth once a month. At the same time, the Earth orbits the sun. Sometimes, the Earth ends up right between the sun and the moon, forming a straight line. When this happens, the Earth blocks some of the sun’s light, creating a shadow on the moon. This is what we call a lunar eclipse.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon can look red! This happens because sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, bending and creating a red color on the moon. Lunar eclipses are famous for turning the moon red, but it can also appear yellow, orange, or brown. The color you see depends on where you are when watching it.
Not everyone on Earth can see a lunar eclipse. Only people on the side of the Earth facing the moon during the eclipse can see it, usually where it’s nighttime. Unlike solar eclipses, which can harm our eyes, you can safely look at lunar eclipses and even take pictures!
This week, a lunar eclipse will be visible in the western United States, Canada, most of Mexico, eastern Australia, and Japan. Lunar eclipses don’t happen often, maybe twice a year, so if you miss this one, there will be another in September. Be sure to check it out and let us know what color you see!
Thanks for learning about lunar eclipses with us. See you next time, fellow sky-watchers!
Moon Shadow Experiment: Create your own mini lunar eclipse at home! You’ll need a flashlight, a small ball (like a tennis ball), and a larger ball (like a basketball). The flashlight represents the sun, the larger ball is the Earth, and the smaller ball is the moon. In a dark room, shine the flashlight on the larger ball and place the smaller ball behind it. Move the smaller ball around the larger one to see how the shadow changes. Can you make the smaller ball turn red by adjusting the light? This simulates how the Earth’s shadow affects the moon during a lunar eclipse.
Lunar Eclipse Art: Use paints or crayons to create your own picture of a lunar eclipse. Start by drawing the moon in the center of your paper. Then, use red, orange, and brown colors to show how the moon might look during an eclipse. Think about how the colors blend and change. Share your artwork with your family and explain why the moon changes color during a lunar eclipse.
Observation Journal: Keep a moon observation journal for a month. Each night, look at the moon and draw what you see. Is it a crescent, half, or full moon? If there’s a lunar eclipse, make sure to note the date and describe the colors you observe. At the end of the month, review your drawings and see how the moon’s appearance changes over time. Discuss with a friend or family member why these changes happen.
