ECLIPSES

Name: _________________________________Year and Sec:______________________ Date :___________Score: ____

The planets and their satellites are opaque bodies in space. As they travel around the Supply the missing word or
sun, they sometimes block the path of light coming from the sun and their shadows are group of words to complete
cast. This shadow casting happens when the earth or the moon intercepts the path of the sentences.
light coming from the sun as they revolve in their respective orbits. 1. The nearest point of the
SOLAR ECLIPSE moon’s orbit around Earth is
The shadow of the moon cannot be notices called _____.
until it falls on the earth. When it does, people in
the place where the shadow falls experience an 2. The darkest part of a
eclipse of the sun or a solar eclipse. In areas shadow cast by an opaque
where the umbra of the moon falls, the eclipse is objects is called ______.
called total solar eclipse. In places where the
penumbra falls, the eclipse is called partial solar 3. Lunar eclipse can happen
eclipse. There are times when the umbra of the moon’s shadow fails to reach fully the during ______ phase.
earth’s surface. This happens when the moon is at apogee; consequently, a ring of light
(called antumbra) surrounds the umbra. The effect of the solar eclipse is dramatic. The 4. Solar eclipse can happen
sky darkens, the temperature falls and the wind increases as the umbra races toward the during ______ phase
area. Nature responds to this phenomenon; birds go to nest, crickets chirp, and petals of
flowers close as if evening has arrived. 5. During annular eclipse,
This wonderful experience lasts only for about 7.5 minutes. Total solar eclipse does the ring of light that
not happen all the time. For it to occur, three conditions must exist: surrounds the umbra is
1. Firstly, the sun, the moon must be at perigee so that its umbra touches the surface called ______
of the earth;
2. Secondly, the plane of the moon’s orbit should coincide with the plane of the
earth’s orbit; and
3. Thirdly, the moon must be in its new moon’s phase.
LUNAR ECLIPSE 6. What are the
As the moon revolves around the earth, it characteristics of the
also passes through the earth’s it also passes following eclipses?
through the earth’s shadow. An eclipse of the a. total lunar eclipse
moon or lunar eclipse occurs. Lunar eclipse
happens during full moon. But just like in solar
eclipse, it does not happen every full moon b. total solar eclipse
because of the tilting of the moon’s orbit. Total
eclipse of the moon happens when the moon crosses the umbra of the Earth’s shadow.
The moon frequently passes the earth’s penumbra, but the shadow cast by the earth on
the moon’s surface is hardly visible.
People’s Beliefs and Practices about Eclipses 7. As a student, do you
Eclipses are rare astronomical phenomena. Eclipses that we observed in the past are believe in the superstitious
either partial or total and their visibility is usually limited to some geographic areas on beliefs about eclipse. Why?
Earth. Viewing an eclipse generates much interest in the wider community. Despite the Expound your answer
awareness of the true nature of this natural phenomenon, many people throw away
logical explanations and associate these phenomena with a lot of superstitious beliefs
and as sources of lore, myths and legends. Some religious have conducted spiritual
researches to find out if eclipses have spiritual significance to mankind and have
formulated spiritual practicesso as to neutralize the long adverse effects brought about
by these phenomena. Eclipses have seen as evil or ominous omens throughout many
ages and cultures in all parts of the worls.
SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS ABOUT THE OCCURRENCE OF AN ECLIPSE
1. In many regions, it was believed that eclipses occur when evil mythological creatures 8. Do you have an
attack the sun: a giant turtle (Vietnam), a jaguar (Latin America), a dragon (Asia) or a experience/s about
werewolf (Romania) superstitious belief of an
2. In tahiti, eclipses have been interpreted as the lovemaking of the sun and the moon. eclipse?
So, people in Tahiti find the event to be something to look forward to, since the eclipse
seems to be harbinger of a divine blessing.
3. The Maoris believed that the lunar eclipse is a sign of imminent victory over their
enemy in a war and the collapse of their enemy’s fort.
4. An eclipse was also through to foretell the death of great people like th Roman
Emperor Nero and Catherine of Aragon.
5. Eclipse was also thought to precede great and tragic events such as the Black Death of
1348 or the start of the First World War in 1914.