Astronomy midterm question: total lunar eclipse

Astronomy 10 Midterm 1, spring semester 2008
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Astronomy 10 learning goal Q2.4

At 7:30 PM at night, you are currently observing a total lunar eclipse in San Luis Obispo, CA. Suppose you decided to call a friend who lives in Seattle, WA, which is north of San Luis Obispo, CA. Explain what kind of eclipse (if any) your friend would be able to see in Seattle, WA at the same time, or why not, using a diagram of Earth, the moon, and shadow zones. Assume that the skies are clear in both San Luis Obispo, CA and Seattle, WA.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Correct. Clear and correct diagram of the observer, Earth, the moon and the sun shown. For a total lunar eclipse, the moon is completely in the umbra of Earth. All observers on the night side of Earth will be able to see this total lunar eclipse. Note that a total penumbral lunar eclipse may be discussed instead, as long as all observers on the night side of Earth see the same thing.
  
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors.
  
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Earth-moon-sun diagram is essentially correct (showing a total lunar eclipse), but argument is based on observers being in different shadow zones, which is not possible, as all observers on the night side of Earth are in the umbra of Earth.
  
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Serious but flawed attempt at an Earth-moon-sun diagram, with major inconsistencies or errors, typically showing a total/partial/annular solar eclipse.
  
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit.
  
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
  
• z:
  Blank.
  

Grading distributions:
Section 5166
p: 27 students
r: 4 students
t: 16 students
v: 18 students
x: 2 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

Notably this midterm was given during the umbral phase of the February 20, 2008 total lunar eclipse! Some students who had finished early were able to go outside and make Danjon L-scale ratings of the darkness of the umbral shadow on the Moon.

A sample of a "p" response (from student 0429) is shown below, clearly showing that observers in Seattle, WA and San Luis Obispo, CA would both see the Moon in the umbra of Earth:
Another "p" response (from student 1207) more elaborately illustrating the relevant geography:
Yet more elaborate geography in another "p" response (from student 1652):
An extended "p" response covering both total and partial lunar eclipse cases (from student 1886):