They are visible to more people because the shadow is much, much larger. A solar eclipse's umbral shadow (where totality is observed) is typically a few miles to occasionally150 miles or so wide and at worst during an annular (ring) eclipse, nonexistent. The moon's shadow is many hundreds of miles wide and is slow moving, lasting hours as compared to minutes or even seconds for the solar type. As far as frequency, I believe solar eclipses and lunar eclipses are about equal in that respect, with there being the possibility of more solar than lunar in a year.
Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses happen EQUALLY often; about two of each kind per year. However, solar eclipses are visible only across a small path on the Earth, while lunar eclipses are visible from the entire nighttime hemisphere of the planet.
Sometimes there can be more solar eclipses or more lunar eclipses in a given year, but they're pretty even on average. However, because a solar eclipse is only visible along a narrow track on the Earth's surface, whereas a lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere the Moon is visible, it is much more common to SEE a lunar eclipse. ======================================= During the 100 years from 1901 to 2000, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones, for an average rate of about 2.3 of each per year.
Most people may think lunar eclipses occur more often because lunar eclipses are visible from a larger geographic area on Earth compared to solar eclipses. Lunar eclipses also last longer and are easier to observe with the naked eye, making them seem more common. However, in reality, both lunar and solar eclipses occur at about the same frequency.
There are generally two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses each year. Sometimes you will see two partial eclipses instead of one total eclipse; in 2011, there will be four partial solar eclipses, and no total or annular solar eclipses. Since lunar eclipses happen on the Moon, they are visible from the entire night half of the Earth. Solar eclipses, when the Moon's shadow hits the Earth, affect very small areas of the Earth, and so they seem to be more rare. The next total lunar eclipse will happen on December 21, 2010, and will be visible from any point in North America.
Total solar eclipses are rare events. Although they occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, it has been estimated that they recur at any given planly once every 370 years, on average.
Anywhere on the night side of the Earth.
Solar eclipses are visible only for a small portion of the Earth's surface where the moon covers the sun. Lunar eclipses in which the Earth's shadow covers the moon are visible for long distances but it's the color of the moon effected by those not the Earth.
There are generally two lunar eclipses per year. Sometimes the eclipses are only visible in other places on the Earth, and the "penumbral" eclipses generally aren't noticable.
Lunar eclipses and solar eclipses happen EQUALLY often; about two of each kind per year. However, solar eclipses are visible only across a small path on the Earth, while lunar eclipses are visible from the entire nighttime hemisphere of the planet.
Sometimes there can be more solar eclipses or more lunar eclipses in a given year, but they're pretty even on average. However, because a solar eclipse is only visible along a narrow track on the Earth's surface, whereas a lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere the Moon is visible, it is much more common to SEE a lunar eclipse. ======================================= During the 100 years from 1901 to 2000, there were 228 solar eclipses and 229 lunar ones, for an average rate of about 2.3 of each per year.
There are eclipses of the sun (solar), and eclipses of the moon (lunar). At different places on the Earth, each of those may be total or partial. Sometimes only a partial eclipse is visible anywhere.
Most people may think lunar eclipses occur more often because lunar eclipses are visible from a larger geographic area on Earth compared to solar eclipses. Lunar eclipses also last longer and are easier to observe with the naked eye, making them seem more common. However, in reality, both lunar and solar eclipses occur at about the same frequency.
There are generally two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses each year. Sometimes you will see two partial eclipses instead of one total eclipse; in 2011, there will be four partial solar eclipses, and no total or annular solar eclipses. Since lunar eclipses happen on the Moon, they are visible from the entire night half of the Earth. Solar eclipses, when the Moon's shadow hits the Earth, affect very small areas of the Earth, and so they seem to be more rare. The next total lunar eclipse will happen on December 21, 2010, and will be visible from any point in North America.
Total solar eclipses are rare events. Although they occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, it has been estimated that they recur at any given planly once every 370 years, on average.
Lunar eclipses are usually visible for anyone who is on the night side of the Earth. Solar eclipses are limited to a very narrow area for only a few minutes.
Lunar eclipse: Visible to everyone who can see the moon in their sky . . . roughly half of the earth's surface.Solar eclipse: Visible only to the people within a narrow strip on the earth's surface ...a few thousand miles long, but only a few hundred miles wide.
On earth there are 2 eclipses, Lunar and Solar eclipses