ECLIPSE LAB
A little geometry changes everything
Illustrative scale
Interactive 3D explainer

Why not an eclipse
every month?

A new moon is only the start. Its tilted orbit sends the shadow above or below us.

Observer · closest to shadow axis
ILLUSTRATIVE SCALE · tilt display ×4.5
Sizes & distances are not to scale
Current alignment
New moon — but no eclipse

The Moon’s shadow misses Earth.

Shadow at Earth
Passes above
Sun covered
0%
Lunar phase
New moon
Drag to orbit · Scroll to zoom
About this model

A diagram you can move through.

This interactive scene explains the geometry of a solar eclipse. It is an educational model, not an ephemeris: it does not predict real eclipse dates, paths, or observing conditions.

What the colors mean

Illustrative scale

Body sizes and distances are independently compressed so the whole system fits on screen. The orbital tilt control uses real angle values, but displays them ×4.5 to make the offset visible. Shadow footprints and the surface sky follow this illustrative geometry. Do not use the scene for eclipse safety or observing plans.

How the view from Earth works

The observer is placed at the surface point closest to the Moon’s shadow axis. Apparent disk sizes, overlap, and coverage come from the model’s geometry. For a readable daytime view, the whole sky may be rotated to keep the Sun above the horizon; angular separation is preserved.

Sources & texture credits

Single-file build · Three.js r160 · No network needed after download
Generated with Tabbit.