The phase of the moon (new, half, full, etc) is a function of how much of its lit surface we can see from the earth. Half the moon is always sunlit, half is dark, but as the moon orbits the earth, more or less of the lit face is pointed towards us here on earth.
The moon's orbital period around the earth is 28 days, which more or less coincides with the length of a month. Once in each of its orbits, its lit face is directly oriented towards earth -- a full moon.
Because the 28-day orbital period is less than a full month, on relatively rare occasions we can have two full moons within one calendar month. The second of those full moons is referred to as a "blue moon" -- thus the phrase, once in a blue moon, which means "rarely."
It's because the Moon's orbit lies in a plane that is inclined to the plane of the Earth's orbit, otherwise called the ecliptic. Usually at Full Moon and New Moon the Moon passes above or below the Sun because of the inclined orbit.
Twice in each lunar month the Moon passes a node, which means it crosses the ecliptic, from south to north at the ascending node, or north to south at the descending node.
Eclipses only occur when New or Full Moon happens to occur at the same time as the Moon is at one of its nodes. Then all three bodies are lined up and there is an eclipse.
Because of the way the earth goes round and tilts on its axis.
Because the moon is off-center in its orbit most of the time. It either passes above or below the preumbra and the umbra (the Earth's shadow path of totality).
The answer is: a total lunar eclipse
During a full moon lunar eclipses can occur.
A lunar eclipse (eclipse of the moon) can occur only at the time of the Full Moon. A solar eclipse (eclipse of the sun) can occur only at the time of New Moon.
No. To get a solar eclipse the moon has to be in a position between the sun and the earth, this happens only round the time of the new moon (when there is little or no moon visible). When the moon is full, the earth is between the sun and the moon (there could therefore be a "lunar" eclipse).
On average, every city WILL experience a LUNAR eclipse each year. About half of these will be partial eclipses.Solar eclipses are just as common - about two per year. But the area of totality for a solar eclipse is quite small compared to the area of the Earth, and the eclipses never occur in the same places twice in a row.
A lunar eclipse does not occur when the sun is out. A lunar eclipse can only be seen at night.
because all the moon phases have to occur before the full moon and the new moon
A lunar eclipse can only occur at the time of Full Moon.
A lunar eclipse can occur only at the time of the Full Moon.
A lunar eclipse can only occur at Full Moon.Technically, the central moment of the eclipse must be the precise moment of Full Moon.
Lunar eclipse can occur only at the time of Full Moon.
As a matter of fact, Full Moon is the only time a lunar eclipse can occur.
Yes.
We do . . . Full.
A lunar eclipse can only occur at the time of Full Moon.
A solar eclipse doesn't occur every 28 days because the moon's orbit is tilted compared to the earths.
The lunar eclipse can only happen when the moon is full.