The Student Room Group

lunar eclipse question

I'm kinda confused because apparently a lunar eclipse can only occur when the moon's phase is 'full moon'. Don't want to sound stupid but since the sun earth and moon are in syzygy and the moon is in the Earth's shadow, I would have thought we can't see anything?
Reply 1
I guess they mean either just before or just after :smile:.
The phase is full moon, but its very temporarily in shadow.
(edited 2 years ago)
Reply 2
Original post by mqb2766
I guess they mean either just before or just after :smile:.
The phase is full moon, but its very temporarily in shadow.

They should have been more specific 😭 :frown:
This is from the MCQ section of a physics admissions exam so I would have thought they'd be more clear :/
Thanks though
Reply 3
Original post by Htx_x346
They should have been more specific 😭 :frown:
This is from the MCQ section of a physics admissions exam so I would have thought they'd be more clear :/
Thanks though

Just about all descriptions will say what you originally quoted. The "temporarily in shadow" is pretty much assumed. The phase is determined by the position of the moon relative to the earth/sun.
(edited 2 years ago)
Reply 4
Original post by mqb2766
Just about all descriptions will say what you originally quoted. The "temporarily in shadow" is pretty much assumed. The phase is determined by the position of the moon relative to the earth/sun.

Oh okay, thank you :smile:

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