Railway
A lunar eclipse can occur only on a:
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Answer: Option C — Full moon day
Detailed Solution
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon, and the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon. This alignment is possible only when the Moon is on the side of the Earth opposite the Sun, which is the full moon position.
Types of lunar eclipse:
- Total lunar eclipse: the whole Moon passes into the Earth's umbra (dark shadow).
- Partial lunar eclipse: only part of the Moon enters the umbra.
- Penumbral lunar eclipse: the Moon passes only through the Earth's lighter outer shadow; the dimming is slight and hard to notice.
Why the Moon turns red:
During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon does not become completely dark. It often appears coppery red.
Sunlight bent through the Earth's atmosphere reaches the Moon, and the atmosphere scatters away most blue light, letting mainly red light through.
A Moon in this state is popularly called a "Blood Moon".
Why there is not an eclipse every full moon:
- The Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees to the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
- So, at most full moons, the Moon passes slightly above or below the Earth's shadow.
- An eclipse happens only when the full moon occurs near one of the two points (nodes) where the Moon's orbit crosses the plane of the Earth's orbit.
Features of lunar eclipses:
- A lunar eclipse can be seen from anywhere on the night side of the Earth where the Moon is above the horizon.
- It is safe to watch with the naked eye, unlike a solar eclipse.
Why not the other options?
- ✗On first and last quarter days, the Sun, Earth and Moon are not in a straight line.
- ✗Good to know
- ✗Solar eclipses, not lunar eclipses, can occur on new moon days.
Quick tip
Remember: Lunar eclipse = Earth between Sun and Moon = only on full moon (Purnima); solar eclipse = Moon between Sun and Earth = new moon (Amavasya).
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This question tests your understanding of Universe & Solar System, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the universe, galaxies and stars, the solar system and its planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, comets and meteors, and the Earth's motions, including rotation, revolution, seasons, latitudes, longitudes and time zones. Common questions ask about the largest and smallest planets (Jupiter and Mercury), the hottest planet (Venus), the 'Red Planet' (Mars), and planets with the most moons. Other frequent questions cover solstices and equinoxes, the International Date Line, and Indian Standard Time, which is based on the 82.5 degree E meridian. Practise the universe and solar system questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.