Why does lunar eclipse occur frequently?

Answer 1

Lunar eclipses are less frequent (about 2 to 3 a year, but sometimes none as in 2005, 2006) than solar eclipses (about 2 to 5 a year). It's only seems that way, because a solar eclipse affects a very small portion of the Earth's surface, generally about 10 sq miles, so it's rare to be in the path of a solar eclipse On the other hand, a lunar eclipse can be seen by anyone at nighttime - essentially half the globe.

Answer 2

A partial eclipse of the moon occurs when any portion of the moon sails through any part of the earth's shadow. Since that shadow expands as it goes outward, it sweeps a much larger area than a solar eclipse does.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes EXACTLY between the sun and earth and at the proper height away from the earth so that the tiny cone shapped shadow falls directly on the earth's surface.

Since the moon's orbit is tipped, it is frequently too high or too low to line up exactly with the earth...making solar eclipses much more rare, than a partial lunar eclipse.

Answer 3

Both lunar eclipses and solar eclipses occur, roughly, every 6 months or so. Solar eclipses seem rare, because they are visible only across very small paths across the Earth. Lunar eclipses only SEEM more common because they happen in the sky, and are visible from the entire night half of the Earth.