What is an Eclipse?

Synopsis

Using animation and three-dimensional models, shows how the motion of the moon around the earth causes both solar and lunar eclipses. An eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun; an eclipse of the moon occurs when the moon passes into the shadow of the earth. Explains why there is not both a lunar and a solar eclipse each month, given that the moon circles the earth every 28 days. Time-lapse, telescopic motion pictures of both lunar and solar eclipse are shown. Shows new astronomical telescopes and discusses what they have discovered about eclipses and the sun.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film; Video; Film. 16mm. sd. col. 11 min. Videocassette. VHS. col. 11 min.

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of production

1985

Availability

Hire
Sale

Uses

Secondary schools and 1st-year undergraduate astronomy courses.*

Subjects

Astronomy

Keywords

eclipses; moon; sun

Distribution Formats

Type

Film

Format

16mm

Distributor

Name

Viewtech Educational Media

Contact

Lynda Morrell

Notes

NB. Viewtech ceased trading in 2014 and the company’s products are no longer in distribution For over 30 years Viewtech distributed programmes from leading specialist educational producers from around the world and since 2002 it included titles previously distributed in the UK by Educational Media Film & Video. The extensive collection covered all subjects within the primary and secondary curriculum and some materials, particularly in the areas of study skills and business, are applicable to further/higher education.