Eclipse Finder command (Tools menu)

Use this command to display a list of solar and lunar eclipses that occur over a ten year period, starting from the current date. The date of each eclipse, as well its type, is displayed in the list.

To view the eclipses over any ten year span, adjust the starting date using options in the Date and Time tab from the .

Earth's Shadow

Lunar eclipses occur when the Moon passes through the shadow cast by Earth.

The Earth’s shadow consists of two components, called the penumbra and the umbra. The penumbra is a partially transparent shadow; light from the Sun is obscured by Earth's atmosphere. The umbra is the opaque shadow cast by the Earth where light from the Sun is completely obscured by Earth's surface.

Earth's shadow (drawn using two concentric circles with different shades of gray) is represented as a celestial object on the Virtual Sky. Use the Display Explorer to show or hide the Earth's shadow celestial object.

Display

Click this button to display the selected. The Virtual Sky is automatically adjusted to show the Sun and Moon for a solar eclipse, or the Earth’s shadow and the Moon for a lunar eclipse. Click the Go Forward command to watch the eclipse.

Show Path of Totality

Check this option to display a map of the earth with the path of totality. This line represents the best locations to watch the eclipse.