25 FAQs about Eclipses (The Astronomy Cafe)

Basic Facts: NASA Eclipse Pages,

The Next Ones: Solar: 2001-2010, Lunar:2001-2010

Pictures: Lunar Eclipses , Solar Eclipses

 Back to the Astronomy Cafe - 365 of the most popular questions since 1996. Over 1 million page requests!

Beginner
  1. [Updated]When can I see the next solar eclipse from North America?
  2. [Updated]Why are some lunar eclipses red in color?
  3. [Updated]Do lunar and solar eclipses have any noticeable affect on humans?
  4. Typically, how big a temperature drop do you get during a total solar eclipse?
  5. What are 'shadow bands'?
  6. What is the speed of the Earth's shadow across the Moon during a lunar eclipse?
  7. How often does a total lunar eclipse correspond with the Harvest Moon in September?
  8. Where on the Web can I find tracks of future eclipses?
  9. Do you know of any historic examples where western explorers used their knowledge of eclipses to impress the natives?
  10. How accurate are modern calculations of ancient eclipses?
  11. What happens more often solar or lunar eclipses?
  12. Why don't eclipses occur every new moon?
  13. When were solar eclipses first predicted accurately?

Intermediate

  1. How long will there continue to be total eclipses of the Sun by the Moon?
  2. Is it an accident that the Moon is just big enough to cover the Sun?
  3. Could ancient astronomers during the 5th century BC have predicted solar eclipses?

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