Planets and Moons  ID: 10787

Lunar Eclipse Essentials

Released on June 8, 2011
When the moon passes through the Earth's shadow, it causes the moon to look very unusual for a short period of time. This event is called a lunar eclipse, and it occurs roughly twice a year. Learn more about how lunar eclipses work in this video!

These videos and animations are available in both standard formats as well as stereoscopic 3D for those who can view it. We've included left and right eye clips, a side-by-side version, and an anaglyph (red/blue) version of the narrated video, and left and right eye clips for each of the animations. The labels next to each link will help you pick!

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NARRATED VIDEO (December 2011 eclipse): Learn more about how a lunar eclipse works by watching this video!

This version contains the correct times for viewing the December 2011 eclipse.

For complete transcript, click here.

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NARRATED VIDEO: Learn more about how a lunar eclipse works by watching this video!

This version contains both the left and right videos for stereoscopic 3D presentations, and you can also download standard 2D versions! The labels next to each link will help you pick.

For complete transcript, click here.

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NARRATED VIDEO - 3D SIDE-BY-SIDE: This version of the video is rendered in the side-by-side format used by some stereoscopic 3D displays.
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NARRATED VIDEO - 3D ANAGLYPH (RED/BLUE): This version is in anaglyph (red/blue) and can be viewed in 3D using common red/blue 3D glasses. You may have a pair lying around at home!
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ANIMATION - LUNAR ECLIPSE FEATURES: During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through the Earth's shadow, which can be divided into two parts. When it passes through the penumbra, the moon only gets slightly darker. When it passes through the umbra, however, it darkens further and turns a deep red.
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ANIMATION - PHASES OF THE MOON: Normally, the appearance of the moon changes based on where the moon is in its orbit. This cycle is called the phases of the moon!
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ANIMATION - 2011 ECLIPSE SCHEDULE: This animation shows the viewing times for the June 15, 2011 lunar eclipse.
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ANIMATION - LIGHT SCATTERED BY THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE: As light passes by the Earth's atmosphere, short wavelengths, like blue, are scattered. By the time light finishes its trip to the moon, only longer wavelengths, like red, remain. This is why the moon turns red during an eclipse! Credit goes to TheWusa from de.wikipedia.org for the illustration this animation is based on.
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ANIMATION - LIGHT SCATTERING SEEN FROM THE MOON: The way that light is scattered by the Earth's atmosphere to turn the moon red during an eclipse is similar to how the sky turns red at sunset. Credit goes to TheWusa from de.wikipedia.org for the illustration this animation is based on.
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ANIMATION - ECLIPSE VIEWED FROM EARTH: When you see an eclipse from Earth, the moon gets darker and turns a deep red before eventually returning to its normal color. The process can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
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VISUALIZATION - PHASES OF THE MOON/LIBRATING MOON: As the moon moves through its phases, it can also appear to "dance" slightly. This is due to its position relative to the Earth.
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ANIMATION - MOON AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE PENUMBRA: As the moon moves through the penumbra, it only darkens slightly.
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ANIMATION - RED MOON: During a lunar eclipse, the moon turns red. This is due to light being scattered as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere!
 

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Credits

Chris Smith (HTSI): Animator
Ernie Wright (USRA): Animator
Chris Smith (HTSI): Video Editor
Chris Smith (HTSI): Narrator
Chris Smith (HTSI): Producer
Richard Vondrak (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Chris Smith (HTSI): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10787

Mission:
LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

This item is part of these series:
Narrated Movies
LRO - Animations
LRO - Edited Features

Goddard TV Tape:
G2011-066 -- Lunar Eclipse Essentials

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Lunar
SVS >> Moon
SVS >> LRO
SVS >> Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
SVS >> Eclipse
DLESE >> Narrated
SVS >> Lunar Eclipse
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons