Moon clouds. The illuminated area of the visible sphere (degree of illumination) is given by formula_3, where formula_4 is the elongation (i.e., the angle between Moon, the observer (on Earth) and the Sun). The gravitational attraction that masses have for one another decreases inversely with the square of the distance of those masses from each other. As a result, the slightly greater attraction that the Moon has for the side of Earth closest to the Moon, as compared to the part of the Earth opposite the Moon, results in tidal forces. Tidal forces affect both the Earth's crust and oceans. The
Total eclipses on the Moon than on Earth with up to around 2.8 hours. Some total-partial eclipses have a most, half or a part of the Moon being in the center of the Earth's shadow. Unlike the Earth which it umbral shadow shows black, as the Moon has no atmosphere, the surface appears red because the only sunlight available is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere on the edges of the earth as it is shown in the sky in a painting by Lucien Rudaux. Total eclipses on the Moon Total solar eclipses on the Moon are caused when the Earth passes in front of the