Are there shadows in space

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Subscribe to Answer Alert. Add Comment Close. No comments yet!!! Be the first to comment!!! Answers 1. Larry Yes, shadows exist in outer space. Shadows can exist anywhere there is a light source and an object with mass. In fact, some of the most spectacular shadows occur in outer space. Eclipses of the sun and moon are due to shadows. When the Earth passes directly through the space between the sun and the moon, it casts a shadow on the moon, which makes it dark for several hours.

This is a lunar eclipse. When the moon passes directly between the Earth and the path of the sun, it blocks the sun, casting a shadow on the Earth and causing a solar eclipse.

Not all shadows in space are spectacular, though. However, as you move to either side, part of the light source becomes visible. That's the penumbra. If you move further to the side until you can see all of the lamp's surface, you have left the penumbra.

If the diameter of the light source exceeds that of the object, an antumbra appears. Rule: If the diameter of the light source is larger than the diameter of the object , a 3rd type of shadow appears where the cone-shaped umbra ends: the antumbra. In this experiment, the light source is another round lamp, but this time it has twice the ball's diameter. Imagine once more that you are looking at the lamp from behind the ball.

As long as you are fairly close to it, the ball's apparent size exceeds the lamp's apparent size. You are within the umbra, and the lamp is invisible. However, as you move away from the ball, its apparent size decreases. At some point, the basketball will appear smaller than the lamp. A ring of light will appear around the ball as the outer rim of the lamp comes into view. You have just entered the basketball's antumbra. Our solar system resembles the set-up of the last experiment.