Eclipse Model Making

Model an eclipse event using simple materials.

• 3 balls (small, medium, and large; representing the moon, earth, and sun)
• Light source (lamp or flashlight)
• Darkened room or space

Hey there, future astronomers! Today, we’re going to make our very own eclipse event using simple materials. Get ready to explore the sun, moon, and earth in action!

Read About Eclipses

Before getting started, read Eclipses so that you know all about the two types of eclipses that you’ll be modeling.

Set Up Your Experiment

Make sure you have all your materials ready on a table or flat surface. Find a darkened room or area where you can conduct your eclipse model experiment. Close curtains or blinds to block out excess light.

Arrange the Balls

Place the balls on the table to represent the sun, moon, and earth. Position the sun (largest ball) in the center, followed by the earth (medium-sized ball), and then the moon (smallest ball) between the earth and the sun.

Look at the image above to see how to arrange your setup.

Demonstrate a Solar Eclipse

Shine the light source (representing sunlight) onto the setup from one side. Observe how the moon casts a shadow on the earth, creating a solar eclipse. Notice the alignment of the sun, moon, and earth during a solar eclipse.

Demonstrate a Lunar Eclipse

Now, move the moon ball to the opposite side of the earth ball, away from the light source. Shine the light source onto the setup from the other side. Observe how the earth casts a shadow on the moon, creating a lunar eclipse. Notice the alignment of the sun, earth, and moon during a lunar eclipse.

Experiment with Different Positions

Move the balls around to explore different positions and alignments. Notice how the positions of the sun, moon, and earth change during different phases of the moon and how this affects eclipses.

Remember: The earth moves around the sun, and the moon moves around the earth. They both go around the sun in a sort of stretched-out circle called an ellipse (yes, that’s different from an eclipse!). The earth is like the leader of the moon, showing it where to go as they travel together around the sun.

Reflect and Discuss

After experimenting with your eclipse models, reflect on what you observed. Discuss the patterns and alignments you noticed and how they relate to real-life eclipses.

Have fun exploring the mysteries of eclipses through hands-on experimentation!

An eclipse is when the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up in a special way, making one of them look like it’s hiding or covering the other. It can be a solar eclipse when the Sun seems to disappear or a lunar eclipse when the Moon gets darker. It’s a magical moment in the sky!

A shape that looks like a stretched circle or oval (like the shape of an egg or football).

The earth moves between the sun and the moon, and the earth’s shadow falls on the moon.

The moon moves between the sun and the earth, blocking out the sun’s light for a little while.