fundamentals: sun & moon
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What is a Lunar Eclipse?
March 2024: This post has been updated and republished from Sept 2017. Show of hands — who’s heard about the lunar eclipse coming up on March 14? As I always do for eclipses, both solar and lunar, I’ve spruced up…
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What is an Annular Eclipse?
Sept 2024: This post has been updated and republished from Sept 2017. First of all, my apologies for missing the last few weeks of posts. I’ve been completely bogged down with physics homework! (Ironic that I’m missing physics-related posts in…
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How to Safely View a Total Solar Eclipse
The total solar eclipse is an incredible phenomenon, one that I hope to see myself someday. But what happens during a solar eclipse? What can you expect to see, and how can you protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays?
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What is a Solar Eclipse?
March 2024: This post has been updated and republished from Sept 2017. A solar eclipse is the most amazing astronomical sight you’ll ever see. Not only is it the only time you’ll ever be able to clearly see the “new…
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What Causes the Lunar Phases?
We see it almost every night of our lives. For thousands of years, the greatest philosophers and astronomers alike have watched its face change and wondered why. Step outside and observe the moon every day for a month and you…
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The Saros Cycle
Would it surprise you to hear the solar eclipses repeat? Now, I know we can’t go back in time to see past eclipses, and once the date of an eclipse — say, March 7, 1970 — has passed, that date…
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The Eclipse Seasons
There can be no doubt that solar and lunar eclipses are some of the most fascinating sights for the “naked” eye. (And I say “naked” under the assumption that you know never to look directly at the sun without approved protection!)…
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Lunar Phases and Motion
The lunar phases…who really understands ’em? We see them all the time. When we look up at the moon in the sky, we’re bound to notice that it looks just a little bit different from the last time we saw…
