View from the Earth (equator, high noon)

View from the Earth (equator, midnight)

Indicates the shadow of the Earth into which the Moon enters (lunar eclipse)

Indicates the shadow of the moon that hits the Earth (solar eclipse)

Earth-Sun line

The penumbra is not shown. Earth's orbit around the Sun and orbit around barycenter are neglected. Distances and dimensions are not in scale.

Solar and Lunar eclipses

Explore the mechanism of the Solar and Lunar eclipse! Why does the eclipse not occur every month?

Try a new April 2024 Solar Eclipse Quiz!

The Moon's orbit around the Earth Rotation of the Earth

Distances and dimensions in scale Eclipse – view from the Earth Show the ecliptic plane

Position of the Moon:

The course of a saros (approx 18 years):

Using mouse you can move in space and rotate the scene.

The animation is speeded up.