Due to the lapse in federal government funding, NASA is not updating this website.

Suggested Searches

1 min read

Diagram of Umbra and Penumbra

The headshot image of NASA

NASA

Apr 08, 2014
Image Article
Diagram of the umbra and penumbra shadows during a lunar eclipse
During an eclipse, two shadows are cast. The first is called the umbra (UM bruh). This shadow gets smaller as it goes away from the sun. It is the dark center of the eclipse shadow. The second shadow is called the penumbra (pe NUM bruh). The penumbra gets larger as it goes away from the sun.

During an eclipse, two shadows are cast. The first is called the umbra (UM bruh). This shadow gets smaller as it goes away from the sun. It is the dark center of the eclipse shadow. The second shadow is called the penumbra (pe NUM bruh). The penumbra gets larger as it goes away from the sun.