I have posted essentially the same material numerous times here and on
The Flat Earth Society, Forum and I have
never had a satisfactory answer.
This is what "the Wiki" says (bits about solar eclipse etc, removed for brevity):
The Lunar Eclipse
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A Lunar Eclipse occurs about twice a year when a satellite of the sun passes between the sun and moon.
This satellite is called the Shadow Object. Its orbital plane is tilted at an angle of about 5°10' to the sun's orbital plane[1], making eclipses possible only when the three bodies (Sun, Object, and Moon) are aligned and when the moon is crossing the sun's orbital plane (at a point called the node). . . . . . . . A lunar eclipse can be seen from the entire half of the earth beneath the moon at that time. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The shadow object is never seen because it orbits close to the sun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
It is estimated that the Shadow Object is around five to ten miles in diameter. Since it is somewhat close to the sun the manifestation of its penumbra upon the moon appears as a magnified projection. This is similar to how during a shadow puppet show your hand's shadow can make a large magnified projection upon your bedroom wall as you move it closer to the flashlight.
From The Lunar Eclipse
This is my interpretation of that geometry. In this diagram the size of the objects has been enlarged (or they would be almost invisible), but the locations are approximately to scale:
With the "shadow object" so small,
it is quite impossible for the it to cast any significant shadow on the moon. Almost all of the sunlight will shine around it.
If my interpretation of the geometry or light paths is incorrect, I would love to be informed, but please no massive refraction or magnification in the atmo
plane,
there is no atmoplane 5,000 km up!
So, I claim that "the Wiki" explanation of the Lunar Eclipse is completely incorrect, so what is the true cause of a Lunar Eclipse.
Some will I ask why I am asking the same question over and over. The answer to that is simple -
it has not yet been answered.[1] If the "shadow object" can never be seen, how was the inclination of its orbit determined, for we are told "Its orbital plane is tilted at an angle of about 5°10' to the sun's orbital plane"?
I can guess, that's simply been "borrowed" from the measured
orbital inclination of the moon by astronomers!