Adirondack Total Eclipse of the Moon: Nature Dectective What to do with kids

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Photo from MrEclipse.com
What to do with kids in the Adirondacks, Lake Placid, Lake George, Saranac Lake, High Peaks

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 EST 
Total Eclipse of the Moon time frame
partial eclipse = 1: 33 a.m.
total eclipse begins = 2:41 a.m.
mid eclipse = 3:17 a.m.
total eclipse ends = 3:53 a.m.
partial eclipse ends = 5:01 a.m.

Be a Nature Detective:

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

• An eclipse of the moon can only take place when the moon is full and if it passes through part of the earth's shadow.

• A lunar eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye while special filters are required to view a solar eclipse.



What is the penumbra?
The outer shadow of the earth that is shaped like a cone and blocks some of the sun's rays

What is the umbra?
 Also cone-shaped, this is the inner shadow of the earth that will block all the sun's rays from reaching the moon.

What is a partial eclipse? 
When the moon passes through only part of the umbra.

What is the term when the moon is completely covered by the earth's umbral shadow? 
Totality is the complete phase of an eclipse when the moon is completely immersed in the earth's darkest shadow.

How long will it last?
A lunar eclipse can last up to a few hours

Some great websites for eclipses
MrEclipse.com
NASA

Here is a papercraft for making a model earth and moon.

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