A few minutes of darkness

The idea

The Earth's rotation and the Moon's motion in its orbit move the Moon's shadow across the Earth's surface, so a total solar eclipse is visible from a place only for a few minutes.

Daytime turns dark

During a total solar eclipse it turns dark in the daytime.

For how long do you think the Sun stays hidden at one place?

• A few minutes
• Many hours
• A whole day

Follow the shadow

Slide time. The shadow moves across the Earth and passes over our place. The bar shows what our place sees.

The shadow moves on

The Earth turns and the Moon moves in its orbit, so the Moon’s shadow sweeps across the Earth. A place is in the dark shadow only for a few minutes.

The Earth’s rotation and the Moon’s motion in its orbit move the Moon’s shadow across the Earth’s surface, so a total solar eclipse is visible from a place only for a few minutes.

Notes

The Earth’s rotation and the Moon’s motion in its orbit move the Moon’s shadow across the Earth’s surface, so a total solar eclipse is visible from a place only for a few minutes.

Check yourself

A total solar eclipse is visible from a place for …

Why is the eclipse so short at one place?

What moves the Moon’s shadow across the Earth?

As the Moon moves away from the front of the Sun, we see …

• many hours. The shadow moves on, so the total eclipse is short.
• a few minutes — correct. Yes! Then the shadow moves away.
• a whole day. The shadow does not stay over a place for a day.
• The Moon stops going round the Earth. The Moon keeps moving in its orbit.
• Clouds always cover the Sun after a few minutes. Clouds are not the reason. The Moon’s shadow moves on.
• The Moon’s shadow keeps moving across the Earth — correct. Yes! It does not stay over one place.
• The Earth’s rotation and the Moon’s motion in its orbit — correct. Yes! Both motions carry the shadow along.
• Ocean waves. Waves move water. They do not move the Moon’s shadow.
• The wind. Wind blows clouds. The Moon’s shadow moves for another reason.
• full night. Light comes back as the Moon moves away.
• a partial solar eclipse, and daylight returns — correct. Yes! The Sun slowly comes back into view.
• another total eclipse that lasts longer. Once the Moon moves away, the Sun is more and more visible.