written by
Wolfgang Christian, Todd Timberlake, and Mario Belloni
The Solar and Lunar Eclipse JavaScript Model simulates the occurrences of solar and lunar eclipses. Moon's orbital inclination of 5.145 degrees with respect to the ecliptic (the Earth-Sun orbital plane) is what is responsible for solar and lunar eclipses not occurring every month. In addition, the orbital plane of Moon precesses every 8.85 years, the so-called precession of the apsides. The inclination and the motion of Moon and Earth are depicted (the size of Sun, Earth, and Moon and the size of Moon's orbit are not shown to scale). The illuminated sides of Earth and Moon and the regions of possible eclipses (in yellow and green) are also depicted. In the Sky View, the motion of Sun and Moon across the sky (+/- 7 degrees from the ecliptic) are shown. Moon's phase is shown and solar and lunar eclipses can occur on the ecliptic when Earth, Sun, and Moon line up properly.
The Solar and Lunar Eclipse JavaScript Model was developed using the Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations (EJS) modeling tool. Although EJS is a Java program, EJS v5 and above can be used to create stand-alone JavaScript programs that run in almost any browser.
Solar and Lunar Eclipse Android App (beta) Solar and Lunar Eclipse model packaged as a stand-alone Android App. Requires Android 6 or above …
Solar and Lunar Eclipse model packaged as a stand-alone Android App. Requires Android 6 or above and fast processor for 3D WebGL.
Moon Phases and Eclipses Worksheet
A student worksheet for the Phases of the Moon and the Solar and Lunar Eclipses simulations. download 119kb .pdf
Published: May 20, 2017
This model of the solar system can explain eclipses of the sun and the moon. Earth's spin axis is fixed in direction over the short-term but tilted relative to its orbit around the sun. The seasons are a result of that tilt and are caused by the differential intensity of sunlight on different areas of Earth across the year. (6-8)
Kepler's laws describe common features of the motions of orbiting objects, including their elliptical paths around the sun. Orbits may change due to the gravitational effects from, or collisions with, other objects in the solar system. (9-12)
Crosscutting Concepts (K-12)
Systems and System Models (K-12)
When investigating or describing a system, the boundaries and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models. (9-12)
Models can be used to predict the behavior of a system, but these predictions have limited precision and reliability due to the assumptions and approximations inherent in models. (9-12)
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices (K-12)
Developing and Using Models (K-12)
Modeling in 9â12 builds on Kâ8 and progresses to using, synthesizing, and developing models to predict and show relationships among variables between systems and their components in the natural and designed worlds. (9-12)
Use a model to predict the relationships between systems or between components of a system. (9-12)
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/OSP/items/detail.cfm?ID=14328">Christian, W, T. Timberlake, and M. Belloni. "Solar and Lunar Eclipse JS Model." Version 1.0.</a>
W. Christian, T. Timberlake, and M. Belloni, Computer Program SOLAR AND LUNAR ECLIPSE JS MODEL, Version 1.0 (2017), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14328&DocID=4690).
W. Christian, T. Timberlake, and M. Belloni, Computer Program SOLAR AND LUNAR ECLIPSE JS MODEL, Version 1.0 (2017), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14328&DocID=4690>.
Christian, W., Timberlake, T., & Belloni, M. (2017). Solar and Lunar Eclipse JS Model (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved October 3, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14328&DocID=4690
Christian, W, T. Timberlake, and M. Belloni. "Solar and Lunar Eclipse JS Model." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14328&DocID=4690 (accessed 3 October 2024).
%A Wolfgang Christian %A Todd Timberlake %A Mario Belloni %T Solar and Lunar Eclipse JS Model %D May 13, 2017 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14328&DocID=4690 %O 1.0 %O text/html
%0 Computer Program %A Christian, Wolfgang %A Timberlake, Todd %A Belloni, Mario %D May 13, 2017 %T Solar and Lunar Eclipse JS Model %7 1.0 %8 May 13, 2017 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=14328&DocID=4690
Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
3 ready-to-run examples are available
1 supplemental document is available
Record Link
Save to my folders
