Eclipses

An eclipse happens when one celestial body moves into the shadow of another. The two most dramatic types we can view form earth are: Solar Eclipses (when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, so that the Moon’s shadow is cast upon a small spot on Earth) and Lunar Eclipses (when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, and creates a huge shadow that falls on the Moon).

Solar eclipses can occur between 2 and 5 times a year, and last for a couple of minutes, whereas lunar eclipses take place up to 3 times a year and last for one or two hours.

Lunar eclipses can be particularly spectacular. The dust in Earth's atmosphere acts as a light prism, bending the light that strikes the Moon, causing it to change colour. As the eclipse progresses, the bright full moon becomes darker and darker, until it suddenly changes colour, usually to a dark purple or apricot, then finally goes completely dark and almost disappears. After a few minutes, the whole process reverses and the Moon gets lighter and lighter until it finally goes back to being a normal Full Moon.