Understanding Stars, Galaxies, and Lunar Eclipses

Moon's Rotation

Moon rotates once per revolution around Earth.

Solar Eclipse

Occurs when Moon's shadow falls on Earth.

Lunar Eclipse

Occurs when Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.

Eclipse Light Refraction

Red light refracts onto Moon during lunar eclipse.

Next Lunar Eclipse Date

March 14, 2025, in Syracuse.

Constellation

Group of stars named in ancient times.

Ursa Major

Familiar constellation known as the Great Bear.

Big Dipper

Well-known asterism in Ursa Major constellation.

Polaris

North Star pointed to by Big Dipper's stars.

Star Birth

Begins as a nebula, advances to protostar.

Planetary Nebula

Outer layers expelled by red giants during fusion.

White Dwarf

Dense, hot star made mostly of carbon.

Black Dwarf

Cold, dark remnant of a white dwarf.

Supernova

Massive star explosion after core collapse.

Neutron Star

Super-dense star composed mostly of neutrons.

Black Hole

Dense object with gravity preventing light escape.

Crab Nebula

Remnant of a historical supernova explosion.

Star Brightness

Measured as apparent brightness or luminosity.

Luminosity

Intrinsic brightness, total energy emitted by star.

Brightness Comparison

20,000 LSun is brighter than the Sun.

Star Color

Indicates temperature; red is cooler than blue.

Star Travel Direction

Stars appear to move across the sky.

Fixed Polaris

Appears fixed due to Earth's rotation.