Is there a pattern of the number of days between solar and lunar eclipses?

Answer 1

There are two "eclipse opportunities" each year, when the Moon passes the ecliptic (the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun) at the new or full moon. And normally, we see either a solar or a lunar eclipse - or both - each time. Occasionally, if the arrangement is off just a bit, we see two partial or penumbral eclipses instead of one total eclipse.

This year, for example, we saw a total solar eclipse at the new moon on July 22, 2009, and a penumbral lunar eclipse two weeks later, on August 6.

Of the two solar eclipses each year that we should expect, about half are partial; one quarter are annular, and a quarter are total. (These are approximations, of course.) Of the two lunar eclipses that we expect each year, about 1/3 are total, and the rest either partial or penumbral.

The NASA Eclipse Web Site lists all eclipses from 2000 BC to 3000 AD; you can look up the exact time and date, and where it was/will be visible.

Answer 2

Yes. The mechanics of the process that causes the apparent shape of the moon

to change also guarantees that a lunar eclipse can only occur at Full Moon, and

a solar eclipse can only occur at New Moon.

Answer 3

Yes. So can you. Just look at the moon once or twice a day for 29 days, and make

a sketch of what you see each time you look. There on your paper is your prediction.

The moon will take on all of those same shapes, in the same order, repeatedly. After

the last sketch on the paper, it will go back to the first one on the paper.

Answer 4

The minimum would be 14.5 days; the maximum would be about 195 days.

Answer 5

Yes, there is a pattern known as the Saros cycle, which is approximately 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours. This cycle predicts when similar eclipses will occur in a series.

Answer 6

no