Astronomy Index Earth Moon System Total Lunar Eclipse< - [1] - [2] - [3] - [4] - [5] - [Links] - >The Earth and the Moon both cast shadows away from their sunlit sides. The Moon's shadow varies in length from just below to just over the Earth-Moon distance - that is why the Moon casts such a small shadow that races over the Earth's surface during a solar eclipse. The Earth's shadow is over a million km long. During a lunar eclipse, it takes the Moon around three hours to pass through it. |