JOURNAL ARTICLE

Duration of Totality of a Lunar Eclipse.

  • Published In: Physics Teacher, 2025, v. 63, n. 5. P. 352 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Sawicki, Mikolaj 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses the calculation of the duration of totality of a central total lunar eclipse by early Greek astronomers and explores how different lunar orbits affect the duration of eclipses. By modeling the lunar orbit as a circle or an ellipse, the author determines the width of the umbra and calculates the duration of totality for various scenarios. The study reveals that the current lunar orbit size results in longer eclipses, and the circular orbit approximation provides reasonable results. The findings offer valuable insights for conceptual physics, introductory physics, and introductory astronomy courses. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Physics Teacher. 2025/05, Vol. 63, Issue 5, p352
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0031-921X
  • DOI:10.1119/5.0128296
  • Accession Number:184885391
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