GCSE Physics

An eclipse of the Moon

An eclipse of the Moon or lunar eclipse occurs when the shadow of the Earth falls upon the Moon.

The diagram below shows how light from the Sun interacts with the Earth to cause a lunar eclipse (not to scale):

How light from the Sun interacts with the Earth to cause an eclipse of the Moon

A lunar eclipse lasts for much longer than a solar eclipse and can be seen over a much wider area.


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