A Wonderleaf question
Why does an eclipse happen?
a real page from the book
An eclipse happens when one space object blocks light from another. In a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, so Moon shadow falls on part of our planet. If you are in that narrow path, daylight can dim or disappear for a few minutes.
The neat trick is size and distance. The Sun is far larger than the Moon, but it is also much farther away, so they can look nearly equal from Earth. During totality, the Sun's faint outer glow, the corona, becomes visible around the dark Moon.
Wonder words
- shadow
- orbit
- corona
- totality
Try it out
Shine a lamp at a wall and move a ball or fist between them to make a moving eclipse shadow.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookOne more wonder: Why is space so dark?
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