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Even though both are just as rare (more or less) lunar eclipses occur at night and last about three hours. Solar eclipses are dangerous to watch without special filters and last several hours, but again should not be seen with the naked eye.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoLunar eclipse . . . the moon passes through the Earth's shadow.
Everybody who can see the moon in his sky ... everyone on the Earth's night side ...
sees the moon go dark for a while.
Solar eclipse . . . the moon's shadow falls on the Earth.
The moon's shadow tapers down, and is only a few hundred miles wide when
it falls on the Earth. If you're inside the shadow, you see the sun go dark for a
short time, from a few seconds to a few minutes. If you're outside the shadow,
you see nothing unusual at all.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThere are about the same number of lunar and solar eclipses, over the long term; usually 2 of each, sometimes three, rarely four and VERY rarely five eclipses in a year. But more people see lunar eclipses than solar. Here's why.
A solar eclipse happens when the shadow of the Moon hits the Earth. The Moon is much smaller than the Earth, and the Moon's shadow is smaller yet. A good total solar eclipse covers a "path of totality" about 100 miles wide and several thousand miles long. The Earth is 3/4 water, so 3/4 of the eclipses occur over (or predominantly over) water.
The Earth is much bigger than the Moon, and the Earth's shadow is still bigger than the Moon is, so during a total LUNAR eclipse, the ENTIRE MOON is eclipsed at once. The eclipse happens ON THE MOON, and so anybody in the night half of the Earth can see it.
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Why do most people think that lunar eclipses occur more often then a solar eclipses?
Because for any given point on Earth, lunar eclipses are visible more often than solar eclipses.
Are there more solar eclipses or lunar eclipses?
Sometimes there can be more solar eclipses or more lunar eclipses in a given year, but they're pretty even on average. However, because a solar eclipse is only visible along a narrow track on the Earth's surface, whereas a lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere the Moon is visible, it is much more common to SEE a lunar eclipse. ======================================= During the 100 years from 1901 to 2000, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones, for an average rate of about 2.3 of each per year.
Why is lunar eclipse seen more frequently?
Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses happen EQUALLY often; about two of each kind per year. However, solar eclipses are visible only across a small path on the Earth, while lunar eclipses are visible from the entire nighttime hemisphere of the planet.
What is the most common type of eclipse?
During the 20th Century, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones, which is about as equal as you can get. But lunar eclipses are visible over a wider area. So if you stay in one place, you're more likely to see lunar eclipses more often than solar ones.
Is there ever going to be an Eclipse?
There are generally two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses each year. Sometimes you will see two partial eclipses instead of one total eclipse; in 2011, there will be four partial solar eclipses, and no total or annular solar eclipses. Since lunar eclipses happen on the Moon, they are visible from the entire night half of the Earth. Solar eclipses, when the Moon's shadow hits the Earth, affect very small areas of the Earth, and so they seem to be more rare. The next total lunar eclipse will happen on December 21, 2010, and will be visible from any point in North America.
Why do most people think that lunar eclipses occur more often then a solar eclipses?
Because for any given point on Earth, lunar eclipses are visible more often than solar eclipses.
Are there more solar eclipses or lunar eclipses?
Sometimes there can be more solar eclipses or more lunar eclipses in a given year, but they're pretty even on average. However, because a solar eclipse is only visible along a narrow track on the Earth's surface, whereas a lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere the Moon is visible, it is much more common to SEE a lunar eclipse. ======================================= During the 100 years from 1901 to 2000, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones, for an average rate of about 2.3 of each per year.
Is a lunar eclipse or solar eclipse more visible?
the sun is blocked out in a solar eclipse so it is more noticeable than a lunar eclipse where only the moon is blocked out
Why is lunar eclipse seen more frequently?
Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses happen EQUALLY often; about two of each kind per year. However, solar eclipses are visible only across a small path on the Earth, while lunar eclipses are visible from the entire nighttime hemisphere of the planet.
What is the most common type of eclipse?
During the 20th Century, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones, which is about as equal as you can get. But lunar eclipses are visible over a wider area. So if you stay in one place, you're more likely to see lunar eclipses more often than solar ones.
Is lunar eclipse is more frequent than a solar eclipse?
No. during the 100 years from 1901 to 2000, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones ... an average of about 2.3 of each every year. If you stay in one place, though, you see lunar eclipses more frequently. That's because a solar eclipse is visible from only a small area on earth, whereas a lunar eclipse is visible from wherever the moon is visible ... the entire night-time half of the earth.
Is there ever going to be an Eclipse?
There are generally two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses each year. Sometimes you will see two partial eclipses instead of one total eclipse; in 2011, there will be four partial solar eclipses, and no total or annular solar eclipses. Since lunar eclipses happen on the Moon, they are visible from the entire night half of the Earth. Solar eclipses, when the Moon's shadow hits the Earth, affect very small areas of the Earth, and so they seem to be more rare. The next total lunar eclipse will happen on December 21, 2010, and will be visible from any point in North America.
Why have a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing behind the earth in relation to the sun. Lunar eclipses are more common than solar eclipses.
What type of eclipse occurs with the greatest frequency?
Lunar eclipses occur more frequently than Solar eclipses. About 70 eclipses take place in regular cycles lasting 18 years and 8 or 9 days; usually 41 of these eclipses are solar and 29 are lunar.
Which type of eclipse may be visible to all the people on one side of Earth?
A solar eclipse covers a very narrow path on the Earth, so usually not many people get a chance to see one. It doesn't help that the Earth is 75% water, and some solar eclipses never touch land at all. Lunar eclipses happen on the Moon, not on the Earth, so the entire night-side of the Earth can see it. As for how long the eclipse lasts, solar eclipses last longer because the Earth is bigger than the Moon is. However, the path of totality travels quickly over the Earth, and if you're standing on the Earth watching the eclipse, the eclipse will be over - for YOU - quickly, because the Moon's shadow has moved on. If you could be in a supersonic aircraft keeping up with it, you would be able to see that it actually lasts longer, but from one spot on Earth, a solar eclipse comes and goes VERY quickly.
Why do Lunar Eclipses occur a couple times a year and are visible to large regions on the Earth?
They are visible to more people because the shadow is much, much larger. A solar eclipse's umbral shadow (where totality is observed) is typically a few miles to occasionally150 miles or so wide and at worst during an annular (ring) eclipse, nonexistent. The moon's shadow is many hundreds of miles wide and is slow moving, lasting hours as compared to minutes or even seconds for the solar type. As far as frequency, I believe solar eclipses and lunar eclipses are about equal in that respect, with there being the possibility of more solar than lunar in a year.
Why are lunar eclipses more common than a solar eclipse?
They're not. During the 20th Century, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones, which is about as equal as you can get. But lunar eclipses are visible over a wider area. So if you stay in one place, you're more likely to see lunar eclipses more often than solar ones.
