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According to Fred Whipple's book 'Earth, Moon and Planets', page 102-104, Solar eclipses are fairly numerous, about 2 - 5 per year, but the area on the ground covered by totality is only a few miles wide. In any given location on Earth, a total eclipse happens only once every 360 years. Eclipses of the Moon by the Earth's shadow are actually less numerous than solar eclipses, however each eclipse covers about 1/2 the surface of the Earth. At any given location you can have up to 3 lunar eclipses per year, but some year there may be none. In any one calendar year, the maximum number of eclipses is 4 solar and 3 lunar, from some locations on the Earth.
During the 100 years of the 20th Century, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229
lunar ones. So over the long term, you can figure on equal numbers, at the rate of
around 7 of each every 3 years.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoSolar and lunar eclipses happen with approximately equal frequency; about two of each per year.
There are SLIGHTLY more lunar eclipses than solar eclipses, because when the alignment of Sun-Moon-Earth for a solar eclipse is just a little off, the small Moon's shadow will sometimes miss the Earth, while if the Sun-Earth-Moon alignment for a lunar eclipse isn't quite perfect, the larger Earth will sometimes cause a partial or penumbral lunar eclipse.
However, a solar eclipse occurs on the surface of the Earth, along a path several thousand miles long and about 100 miles wide. Anyone outside that path will not experience an eclipse. In a lunar eclipse, the eclipse happens ON THE MOON, and everyone on the nightside of the Earth can see it.
So lunar eclipses appear to be far more common, because more people can see them - even though in truth they are approximately equal in number.
You can see the schedule of eclipses from the year 2000 BC to 3000 AD on the NASA Eclipse web page at the link below.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoSolar and lunar eclipses are approximately equal in their probability; there are generally two of each every year. But lunar eclipses are far more likely to be VISIBLE, because a lunar eclipse happens on the Moon. People from half of the world - the entire night half - can see a lunar eclipse. Solar eclipses happen across a long, narrow track on the Earth, and only people along that track can see them.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoim pretty sure its a solar but im probably wrong
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA lunar eclipse happens once or twice a year. It really depends on where you live . North or south(close to the equator)
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoonly every 100 years but yh every 100 years to every 20 years the last one was in 1999 in the UK
Wiki User
∙ 15y agomy guess is lunar
Wiki User
∙ 15y agomoon
Wiki User
∙ 15y agolunar
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Witch are more frequent eclepses of the moon or sun?
moon
What does Eclipse mean in science?
An eclipse is the word used to describe an astronomical phenomenon in which the Sun, Earth and Moon happen to line up sufficiently for the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon (a lunar eclipse) or the Moon's shadow to fall on the Earth (a solar eclipse). A lunar eclipse can be seen from half the Earth at once - the dark half. A solar eclipse has a more limited viewing area because the Moon is relatively small. Therefore although lunar and solar eclipses are equally frequent, it appears to anyone in a fixed geographical position that lunar eclipses are more frequent.
What appearance does the sun have to an observer during a total solar eclipse?
An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth (in that order) are on a single line with each other.Thus the moon blocking the Sun's light. For an observer the Sun is not visible because the moon is in the way. But because the gravity of the moon bends the light of the sun a little bit back to Earth so it appears with a glowing ring around the dark circle created by the moon. This is known as a full eclipse.This eclipse will only be shown as a full eclipse in specific regions on Earth where the alignment comes out perfect, in other parts of the world there will also be an eclipse but it will be a partial eclipse, by which the moon is also blocking the sun but only partial much like a crescent moon looks like.Note: The phases of the moon happen in a parallel way, when the Sun, Earth and Moon (in that order) are aligned. But a dark moon happens far more frequent than a solar eclipse.
What occurs when the sun moon and earth are in a line?
An eclipse of the Sun, if they are in that order. Moon, Earth and Sun would be an eclipse of the Moon..
How is a total eclipse created?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth passes between the sun and the moon. In other words, the moon is in the earth's shadow. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the earth and the sun. In other words, the earth is in the moon's shadow. The earth is much larger than the moon, so the moon's shadow is considerably smaller than the earth's. Total lunar eclipses are far more frequent and can be seen by everyone on earth with a view of the moon. A solar eclipse can only be seen by those within the narrow band of the moon's shadow.
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 the eclipse getting more frequent?
Eclipses are not getting more - or less - frequent. Eclipses - of the sun or the moon - happen at regular intervals, and are easily predictable many years in advance.
Which are more frequent -- eclipses of the sun or of the moon?
moon
Witch are more frequent eclepses of the moon or sun?
moon
What does Eclipse mean in science?
An eclipse is the word used to describe an astronomical phenomenon in which the Sun, Earth and Moon happen to line up sufficiently for the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon (a lunar eclipse) or the Moon's shadow to fall on the Earth (a solar eclipse). A lunar eclipse can be seen from half the Earth at once - the dark half. A solar eclipse has a more limited viewing area because the Moon is relatively small. Therefore although lunar and solar eclipses are equally frequent, it appears to anyone in a fixed geographical position that lunar eclipses are more frequent.
Is it true that an eclipse of the sun is called a lunar eclipse?
no that is an eclipse of the moon an eclipse of the sun is a solar eclipse.The name of our sun is Sol, so an eclipse of the sun is sol-ar; the moon's name is Luna, so a lunar eclipse is an eclipse of the moon.
What appearance does the sun have to an observer during a total solar eclipse?
An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth (in that order) are on a single line with each other.Thus the moon blocking the Sun's light. For an observer the Sun is not visible because the moon is in the way. But because the gravity of the moon bends the light of the sun a little bit back to Earth so it appears with a glowing ring around the dark circle created by the moon. This is known as a full eclipse.This eclipse will only be shown as a full eclipse in specific regions on Earth where the alignment comes out perfect, in other parts of the world there will also be an eclipse but it will be a partial eclipse, by which the moon is also blocking the sun but only partial much like a crescent moon looks like.Note: The phases of the moon happen in a parallel way, when the Sun, Earth and Moon (in that order) are aligned. But a dark moon happens far more frequent than a solar eclipse.
What appearance does the sun have to an observer during a total eclipse?
An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth (in that order) are on a single line with each other.Thus the moon blocking the Sun's light. For an observer the Sun is not visible because the moon is in the way. But because the gravity of the moon bends the light of the sun a little bit back to Earth so it appears with a glowing ring around the dark circle created by the moon. This is known as a full eclipse.This eclipse will only be shown as a full eclipse in specific regions on Earth where the alignment comes out perfect, in other parts of the world there will also be an eclipse but it will be a partial eclipse, by which the moon is also blocking the sun but only partial much like a crescent moon looks like.Note: The phases of the moon happen in a parallel way, when the Sun, Earth and Moon (in that order) are aligned. But a dark moon happens far more frequent than a solar eclipse.
Why is the lunar eclipse not frequent?
Because the sun, Earth and moon rarely ever line up EXACTLY in a straight line.
What occurs when the sun moon and earth are in a line?
An eclipse of the Sun, if they are in that order. Moon, Earth and Sun would be an eclipse of the Moon..
What is the similarity between the eclipse of the moon and the eclipse of the sun?
solar eclipse-moon blocks out sun-do not look at when occuring lunar eclipse-sun blocks out moon-feel free to look at when ocuring
When does earth have an eclipse?
When the Sun, Earth and Moon line up exactly, an eclipse occurs. If the alignment is sun, Moon, Earth, then it is a solar eclipse. If the alignment is Sun, Earth, Moon, then we have a lunar eclipse.
