Planets and Moons  ID: 11842

Darkness From Above

Story by Julia Calderone Released on May 7, 2015
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During a solar eclipse, the moon casts a giant shadow on Earth that can be seen from space.
About twice a year, a momentary darkness sweeps across our planet as the moon passes between Earth and the sun and blocks all or some of its light during a solar eclipse. Those lying within the narrow path of the shadow the moon casts on Earth, which covers only about one percent of the surface, get to experience an eerie sense of twilight as day turns to night and back to day again within minutes. But to an observer in space, an entirely different effect is seen. Portions of sky at the top of Earth's atmosphere dim as the moon’s shadow travels across the planet. When the sun’s disk is completely blocked by the moon during what’s called a total solar eclipse, the shadow that falls on Earth can measure about 100 miles wide. Explore the video and images to see views of the moon's shadow during a solar eclipse captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
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This video taken from the International Space Station shows the moon’s shadow over eastern Asia during a solar eclipse on May 20, 2012.
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Astronauts captured this image of the moon's circular shadow over the Indian Ocean during a 2002 solar eclipse.
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Darkness falls over the Mediterranean Sea in this image of the moon's shadow taken during a total solar eclipse in 2006.
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The shadow of the moon temporarily blackens clouds above the Pacific Ocean during a solar eclipse in 2012.

Story Credits

Lead Writer:
Julia Calderone (USRA)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Cover image courtesy of NASA/SVS/LRO/E. Wright
Video and images courtesy of NASA/JSC

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11842

Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons