Astronomy/Lunar Eclipse

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Expert: - 4/13/2009


Question
Can a Lunar Eclipse occur during a New Moon?

Answer
Hello.

NO - it cannot. A lunar eclipse (eclipse of the Moon) occurs when the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon (or - you can say the Moon is in the Earth's shadow, with the Sun on the other side). This can only occur at Full Moon.

Thus:

o        Earth O    <----rays from Sun
Moon    



Solar eclipses will occur at New Moon.

Astronomy

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Philip Stahl

Expertise

I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.

Experience

Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.

Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union

Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.

Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics

Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research

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