Tidal range Tidal range Tidal range is the height difference between high tide and low tide. Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and Sun and the rotation of Earth. Tidal range is not constant but changes depending on the locations of the Moon and Sun. The most extreme tidal range occurs during spring tides, when the gravitational forces of both the Moon and Sun are aligned (syzygy), reinforcing each other in the same direction (new moon) or in opposite directions (full moon). During neap tides, when the Moon and Sun's gravitational
Partial eclipses on the Moon Partial eclipses on the Moon Partial solar eclipses on the Moon are caused when the Earth passes nearly in front of the Sun, blocking a part of its light. Viewers on Earth will see a penumbral lunar eclipse. During its eclipses, the Earth will be in new phase, completely dark, except for moonshine and sunlight refracted through the earth's atmosphere, visible as a ring of light. Unlike the Earth's which shows slightly darker shadows at 50% obscuration and mostly dark at over 75% obscuration, the Moon's penumbral shadow on the surface shows light yellow at the start and the end