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The duration of a solar eclipse is determined partly by the distance between the Earth and the Moon at the time of the eclipse. When the Moon is closer, the Moon's shadow is bigger and the eclipse lasts longer. When the Moon is farther away, the Moon's shadow is smaller and the eclipse shorter.

The spinning of the Earth is the other factor; the Earth spins at about 1,000 miles per hour, so one place doesn't stay in the Moon's shadow for very long.

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16y ago

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