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If the plane of the moon's orbit coincided with the plane of the earth's orbit (the 'ecliptic

plane'), there would be a solar eclipse at every New Moon, and a lunar eclipse at every

Full Moon.

Nobody would think anything of it. It would be commonplace, just "the way things work",

and nobody would even bother to look up. Eclipses would be as boring as the sunrise

and sunset are, even though all are equally miraculous.

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How often do solar eclipses occur on Jupiter?

Solar eclipses on Jupiter occur much more frequently than on Earth due to its many moons casting shadows on the planet. On average, there can be multiple solar eclipses every day on Jupiter as the large number of moons with varying orbital planes constantly create opportunities for eclipses to happen.


What is the only lunar phase during which a solar eclipse can occur?

Solar eclipses happen during NEW moons, when the Moon blocks the light of the Sun. Lunar eclipses happen during FULL moons, when the Earth blocks the light of the Sun.


Why solar eclipse does not occur every time the moon revolves around earth?

The Earth orbits the Sun in a plane that we call the "ecliptic". If the Moon orbited the Earth in that same plane, we would experience eclipses every month. But the plane of the Moon's orbit is about 5 degrees tilted from the ecliptic, and so we only see eclipses at the "nodes" when the Moon's orbital plane crosses the ecliptic at the new or full moons.


Why eclipses do not occur every month?

Because the position of the moon, earth, and sun are not in the same exact place every month. This means they are a rare occurrence and only happen when the moon, earth and sun are in exact alignment with the earth.


Why are full moons so common while lunar eclipses are relatively rare Describe or draw the relative positions of the earth the sun and the moon?

Because at most full moons the Moon passes above or below the Sun and not actually right in front of it. That's because the Moon has a tilted orbit. I can't draw a diagram on here so you'll have to do your own homework :)

Related Questions

Why don't you have a eclipses every month?

because the moons revolution is tilted and most of the time the moon goes over the earth.


Why does the lunar eclipses happen more often?

Earth's shadow is bigger comoared to the moons


Do planets with moons have eclipses as often as earth?

Planets with moons may indeed have Earth-like eclipses. Eclipses happen when moon orbital plane intersects with planet orbital plane with respect to its star. Eclipses can only happen however if angular diameter of the moon is similar to (or greater than) angular diameter of star as seen from planet's surface, which is quite a rare condition. In the whole Solar System moon-eclipses only happen on Earth.


How often do solar eclipses occur on Jupiter?

Solar eclipses on Jupiter occur much more frequently than on Earth due to its many moons casting shadows on the planet. On average, there can be multiple solar eclipses every day on Jupiter as the large number of moons with varying orbital planes constantly create opportunities for eclipses to happen.


What would happen to the frequency of eclipses if the moons orbit were not tilted?

If the plane of the moon's orbit coincided with the plane of the earth's orbit (the 'ecliptic plane'), there would be a solar eclipse at every New Moon, and a lunar eclipse at every Full Moon. Nobody would think anything of it. It would be commonplace, just "the way things work", and nobody would even bother to look up. Eclipses would be as boring as the sunrise and sunset are, even though all are equally miraculous.


What do you predict will happen in 2015?

I don't know how but scientists say that in 2015 there is going to be four moons that are blood red. I think its because 2014-2015 four eclipses will happen, but I don't know what that has to do with four moons.


Which planets never have eclipses and why?

Mercury and Venus can never have any eclipses, because they have no moons.


Is the moons orbit around earth straight with respect to earth's orbit around the sun?

No. The moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the sun. This is why we do not see eclipses every month.


What is the only lunar phase during which a solar eclipse can occur?

Solar eclipses happen during NEW moons, when the Moon blocks the light of the Sun. Lunar eclipses happen during FULL moons, when the Earth blocks the light of the Sun.


Why solar eclipse does not occur every time the moon revolves around earth?

The Earth orbits the Sun in a plane that we call the "ecliptic". If the Moon orbited the Earth in that same plane, we would experience eclipses every month. But the plane of the Moon's orbit is about 5 degrees tilted from the ecliptic, and so we only see eclipses at the "nodes" when the Moon's orbital plane crosses the ecliptic at the new or full moons.


Does someone see a sorlar eclipse when someone sees a harvest moon?

No. Harvest Moons are full, while solar eclipses can only happen at the new moon.


Do solar eclipse occur at the full moon or the new moon?

Solar eclipses only happen on New moons when the moon is exactly in orbit between the Sun and the Earth.