Moon Basics
What natural object orbits Earth and reflects light from the sun?
The moon
During a lunar eclipse, what body moves between the sun and the moon?
Earth
What do you call an eclipse when only part of the moon enters Earth’s shadow?
A partial lunar eclipse.
Which continent was mentioned as being able to see this lunar eclipse (in the text)?
North America
What nickname is sometimes used for a red moon during a total lunar eclipse?
A “blood moon.”
What phase must the moon be in for a lunar eclipse to occur?
A Full Moon
What does Earth cast onto the moon during a lunar eclipse?
Earth’s shadow.
What do you call an eclipse when the whole moon is inside Earth’s shadow?
A total lunar eclipse
Which continent was mentioned as being able to see this lunar eclipse (in the text)?
Atlantic or Pacific.
Who studies space and will watch the eclipse with special instruments?
Astronomers.
Name two surface features you can find on the moon (one-word answers).
Craters and maria (or mountains, highlands).
What color can the moon look during a total lunar eclipse?
Red (often called a “blood moon”).
Which kind of lunar eclipse is more rare: partial or total?
Total lunar eclipses are more rare.
The total lunar eclipse in the text happens over which dates (month and day numbers)?
March 2–3.
True or False: Full moons usually happen once a month. (Answer with True or False.)
Why does the moon look bright in the night sky?
Because it reflects sunlight.
Explain why you do not need special glasses to view a lunar eclipse (one sentence).
Because the moon is simply in Earth’s shadow and is not shining intense sunlight toward viewers, so it is safe to look at with the naked eye.
True or False: Lunar eclipses can only happen during a new moon. (Answer with True or False.)
False. (They happen only during a full moon.)
About how long will the total lunar eclipse last (in about how many minutes or hours)?
About one hour (about 60 minutes).
The U.S.'s last total lunar eclipse before 2026 was in which year (given in the text)?
2022
Explain why the moon’s appearance changes over the month (use the words “orbit” and “sun”).
As the moon orbits Earth, different parts of the moon face the sun, so the amount of sunlight we see changes and the moon’s phases change
Describe what causes the moon to look red during a total lunar eclipse (mention atmosphere and sunlight)
Sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere and is scattered; blue light is scattered away and red wavelengths are bent into Earth’s shadow and light the moon, making it look red.
Compare a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse in one clear sentence (who blocks whose light?).
In a solar eclipse the moon moves between the sun and Earth and blocks the sun, while in a lunar eclipse Earth moves between the sun and moon and blocks sunlight from reaching the moon.
Explain why people in different places see the eclipse on different dates (mention time zones or date line).
Because of time zones and the International Date Line, the local date and time differ, so people in some places see the eclipse on March 2 while others see it on March 3.
Give two reasons why total lunar eclipses are special or interesting (short answers)
They are safe to view with the naked eye; they are rarer than partial eclipses; and they allow scientists to study the moon and Earth’s atmosphere.