The lighter outer shadow during an eclipse is called the ______.

Prepare for the 8th Grade Sun-Earth-Moon System Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and detailed explanations. Ensure you’re ready to ace the exam!

Multiple Choice

The lighter outer shadow during an eclipse is called the ______.

Explanation:
During an eclipse, the Moon blocks part of the Sun's light in two distinct zones. The dark central zone where the Sun is completely hidden is called the umbra. Surrounding that is the lighter outer zone where only part of the Sun is blocked, which is the penumbra. The lighter outer shadow is the penumbra, not the corona (which is the Sun’s outer atmosphere visible during totality) and not just any shadow. So the correct term for the lighter outer shadow is penumbra.

During an eclipse, the Moon blocks part of the Sun's light in two distinct zones. The dark central zone where the Sun is completely hidden is called the umbra. Surrounding that is the lighter outer zone where only part of the Sun is blocked, which is the penumbra. The lighter outer shadow is the penumbra, not the corona (which is the Sun’s outer atmosphere visible during totality) and not just any shadow. So the correct term for the lighter outer shadow is penumbra.

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