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• This is Outer Space Pals #13. In this episode, we start to talk about eclipses. We also introduce the Moon's outer and inner shadows.
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• The Moon has two types of shadows because the Sun is a big object. It's not a point like the stars at night. So, for example, imagine that the bottom of the Moon blocks the light from the top of the Sun. That creates a shadow. But because some light from the bottom of the Sun passes by the Moon without being blocked, that light falls into part of the shadow. This causes the shadow to be lighter.
• Astronomers call the outer shadow of the Moon the penumbra. If you're under the penumbra during a solar eclipse, you will see a partial eclipse. That is, only part of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.
• PLEASE NOTE: The Sun's light is so bright that it's dangerous to your eyes if you look directly at the Sun. So, anytime the Moon covers only part of the Sun, you MUST wear approved solar viewing glasses.
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• During total eclipses of the Sun, there will be a spot on Earth where the Moon covers the Sun's whole face.
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• Astronomers call the inner shadow of the Moon the umbra. If you're under the umbra during a solar eclipse, you will see a total eclipse. That is, all of the Sun will be covered by the Moon.
• PLEASE NOTE: The only time you can look directly at the Sun is during totality. In fact, you MUST take your solar viewing glasses off at this time or you won't see the most spectacular part of the eclipse.
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• When you look at the totally eclipsed Sun, you'll see our star's thin outer atmosphere. Astronomers call it the corona. "Corona" is the Latin word for "crown."
• And here's something interesting. Many people think it gets completely dark during totality. But the corona actually puts out a lot of light. How much? As much as the Full Moon. That's right, the Full Moon and the Sun's corona shine with the same brightness. But you can't see the corona normally because the Sun's face outshines it by 1 million times.
