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Lunar Eclipse (May 9, 2003, Two)

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Program Summary

On May 15, sky watchers in North America will be treated to a lunar eclipse—that’s when the Earth blocks the sun’s light from the full moon, making it appear red in the sky, beginning at about 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The phenomenon lasts for nearly an hour and can be seen easily with the naked eye, so anyone can get a good look if skies are clear. If you watch as the shadow of the Earth’s curved edge travels across the moon, you’ll get a glimpse of what third century Greek astronomers saw. Viewing phenomena such as this helped ancient astronomers know the Earth was round—long before the 15^th century and the age of exploration.

But the moon isn’t the only “star” in the spring and summer skies. There’s the annual Perseid meteor shower on August 12. And on August 27, Mars will pass closer to Earth than it has in the past 73,000 years! Also plainly visible is the planet Jupiter. Aside from the Moon, Jupiter is the first object you can see in the darkening sky. With a small telescope, you can even see four of Jupiter’s brightest moons.

For those lucky enough to escape the city lights, the cottony sweep of the Milky Way’s spiral arms will be visible in dark summer skies. All in all, this summer promises some exceptional sky watching opportunities.

Guests

Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Related Links and Resources

MrEclipse.com’s Lunar Eclipses for Beginners
European Space Agency’s Beagle 2
NASA’s Eclipse Home Page
NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Science@NASA, Lunar Eclipse
Science@NASA, Summer Meteor Shower
Sky and Telescope
SpaceDaily, May 5, 2003, “Europe Sets June 2 for Mars Launch Date”
U.S. Naval Observatory’s Lunar Eclipse Computer

For Discussion:

• What is a lunar eclipse? How is a lunar eclipse different from a solar eclipse?
• Why does the moon turn red during a lunar eclipse?
• Why hasn’t Mars passed closer to Earth in the past 73,000 years?
• What missions are planned this year to study Mars? Why do you think several missions are planned for this summer?
• What is a meteor, and what is a meteor shower? How is a meteor shower different from a meteor storm?

Activities

Measure to scale. The best way to teach about a lunar eclipse is to view one with your students. If that’s not possible, you may be able to tape it and show to the class. Local observatories and astronomy club members are often happy to help set up viewings or record astronomical events that you can watch later. One of the ways astronomers evaluate a lunar eclipse is by the moon’s brightness, as measured with the Danjon Luminosity Scale. French astronomer André-Louis Danjon devised a five-point scale that describes lunar brightness and color during an eclipse. Chabot Space and Science Center’s Virtual Planetarium page Observe Eclipses! explains the Danjon scale and offers tips for viewing the moon and using the scale. A less technical description of the scale is found at this MrEclipse.com page.

Mars moves. Space.com’s “Orbital Oddities: Why Mars Will Be So Close to Earth in August” explains the physics of planetary motion using a metaphor most of us can understand: the Spirograph toy. For an even clearer picture, view the animation on the page. Have students role play the movements of the sun and the four inner planets to see how this rare alignment of Earth and Mars will occur.

More about Mars. NASA offers a long list of Mars Classroom Resources, including “Mars Activities,” a 128-page guide to lead your students on a thorough study of the red planet, and the Mars Exploration Curriculum for grades 4–­10. For information about missions scheduled to blast off to Mars this summer, check out the European Space Agency’s Beagle 2 site, and NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Mission page.

Use the search box below to perform a Google search within any of the specifc sites or general domains mentioned in this Activities section.

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