What happens first in a lunar eclipse?
In a lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Moon to move into the Earth's shadow. There are several phases in a lunar eclipse. To understand what happens first, let's walk through the sequence of events.
1. Penumbral Eclipse: The lunar eclipse begins with the penumbral phase. This is when the Moon enters the Earth's penumbra, which is the outer part of the shadow where the Sun is only partially blocked. During this phase, the Moon appears slightly dimmer.
2. Partial Eclipse: As the Moon continues to move deeper into the Earth's shadow, it enters the umbra, which is the darker, central region of the shadow. This marks the start of the partial eclipse. The Moon starts to appear partially covered by the Earth's shadow, and its brightness diminishes further.
3. Total Eclipse: The total eclipse occurs when the Moon is completely immersed in the Earth's umbra. At this point, the Moon often takes on a reddish hue because some of the sunlight passing through the Earth's atmosphere gets bent and refracted towards it. This phenomenon is known as the "blood moon."
So, to answer your question, the first phase in a lunar eclipse is the penumbral eclipse, followed by the partial eclipse, and finally, the total eclipse.