![]() ![]() The Earth's axis of rotation is tilted about 23.5 degrees in relation to the ecliptic plane, an imaginary disk through Earth's orbit around the sun. The last total solar eclipse visible from the United States happened in August 2017 the next one will take place in April 2024. Total solar eclipses are rare in a given location because the shadow of the moon is so small on the Earth's surface. A solar eclipse can occur only during a new moon.ĭepending on the degree to which the moon blocks the sun as seen from a particular location on Earth, a solar eclipse can be total, annular or partial. Photos: 'Ring of fire' solar eclipse 2021: See amazing photos from stargazersĪ solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, casting the moon's shadow onto Earth. A lunar eclipse can occur only during a full moon.ĭuring a full lunar eclipse, because the moon is in shadow, it can appear blood red in the night sky. A lunar eclipse takes place when Earth is directly between the sun and the moon, casting Earth's shadow onto the moon's face. (Image credit: NASA)ĭuring eclipses, the moon, Earth and sun are in a straight line, or nearly so. The energy that Earth loses is picked up by the moon, increasing its distance from the Earth, which means the moon gets farther away by 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) annually.ĭuring a total lunar eclipse, the moon appears to turn red while passing through Earth's shadow. The pull of the moon is also slowing the Earth's rotation, an effect known as tidal braking, which increases the length of our day by 2.3 milliseconds per century. High tide occurs on the side of the Earth nearest the moon due to gravity, and on the side farthest from the moon due to the inertia of water. High tides refer to water bulging up from Earth's surface, and low tides when water levels drop. To a much smaller extent, tides also occur in lakes, the atmosphere and within Earth's crust. The moon's gravity pulls at the Earth, causing predictable rises and falls in sea levels known as tides. Apogee (farthest distance from Earth): 252,000 miles (405,500 km).Perigee (closest approach to Earth): 225,700 miles (363,300 km).Average distance from Earth: 238,855 miles (384,400 km).How does the moon's orbit Earth and cause tides? Daytime temperatures on the sunny side of the moon reach 273 degrees F (134 Celsius) on the night side, it gets as cold as minus 243 F (minus 153 C). And without much of an atmosphere, heat is not held near the surface, so temperatures vary wildly. The moon has only a very thin atmosphere, so a layer of dust - or a footprint - can sit undisturbed for centuries. Meanwhile, a 2017 study suggested the moon's interior could be abundant in water too. Ongoing observations from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have shown that water is more abundant on slopes facing the lunar south pole, although scientists do caution that the water quantity is comparable to an extremely dry desert. They have also located hundreds of pits that could one day house explorers living on the moon long-term. Orbiting spacecraft have found traces of water on the lunar surface that may have originated from deep underground. The average composition of the lunar surface by weight is roughly 43% oxygen, 20% silicon, 19% magnesium, 10% iron, 3% calcium, 3% aluminum, 0.42% chromium, 0.18% titanium and 0.12% manganese. It's pockmarked with craters created by asteroid impacts millions of years ago and, because there is no weather, the craters have not eroded. Like our solar system's four innermost planets, the moon is rocky. ![]() This image is a mosaic of multiple images taken by Galileo. The moon's north pole as seen by NASA's Galileo spacecraft in 1998.
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