Thursday, August 21, 2014
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Parent Category: Educational








2.  A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially covers the Sun as viewed from some locations on Earth.

3.  A Solar eclipse always occurs two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.

4.  Lunar eclipses can only occur during a full moon. Solar eclipses can only occur during a new moon.

5.  Eclipses very often occur in threes, alternating lunar, solar and lunar.

6.  The maximum time a lunar eclipse can last is 3 hours and 40 minutes.  The maximum time for a total solar eclipse is 7 minutes and 40 seconds.

7.  Lunar eclipses can occur up to 3 times a year.  Solar eclipses can occur at least 2 and no more than 5 times a year.

8.  Lunar eclipses are visible over an entire hemisphere.  Solar eclipses are visible in a narrow path a maximum of 167 miles wide.

9.  The cycle of eclipses repeats every 18.6 years called the saros.

10.  The eclipse shadow moves at 2,000 mph at the Earth's poles and 1,000 mph at the Earth's equator.


  Fast Facts Resources
NASA Eclipse
Mr. Eclipse