We don't get eclipses every month because the plane of the Moon's orbit isn't quite the same as the plane of the Earth's orbit. Most times when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up, it only ALMOST lines up; the Moon is a little above the Earth, or a little below it.
No, solar eclipses happen about twice a year. (Sometimes instead of one "real" eclipse, we get two "partial" eclipses.) You can look up the dates and locations of solar eclipses starting with the year 2000 BC and going to 3000 AD on the NASA Eclipse web site (linked below).
A solar and lunar eclipse do not occur every month because the orbits of the Earth and the Moon are tilted relative to each other by about 5 degrees. Eclipses can only happen when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align closely, which occurs during specific times known as eclipse seasons, roughly every six months. During these periods, if the alignment is right, a solar eclipse (when the Moon covers the Sun) or a lunar eclipse (when the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon) can take place. Thus, while eclipses can happen multiple times a year, they do not occur every month.
On average there are as many solar eclipses as there are lunar ones. But each lunar eclipse can be seen from half the Earth, while a solar eclipse can only be seen from a relatively small strip of the Earth's surface. So in any one place it seems that solar eclipses are rare.
Solar and lunar eclipses don't occur every month because the orbits of the Earth and the Moon are tilted relative to each other. Eclipses can only happen when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align perfectly, which occurs during specific phases of the Moon (new and full). This alignment happens only a few times a year, resulting in a limited number of eclipses rather than one every month.
There are generally two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses each year. Because solar eclipses cover a very narrow stripe across the Earth, solar eclipses SEEM TO BE rare - in one particular location. There can be several CENTURIES between total solar eclipses in the same spot. On the other hand, it can be just a few years. There's a town in Illinois that will have two total solar eclipses only 8 years apart, in 2017 and 2024.
No, solar eclipses happen about twice a year. (Sometimes instead of one "real" eclipse, we get two "partial" eclipses.) You can look up the dates and locations of solar eclipses starting with the year 2000 BC and going to 3000 AD on the NASA Eclipse web site (linked below).
On average there are as many solar eclipses as there are lunar ones. But each lunar eclipse can be seen from half the Earth, while a solar eclipse can only be seen from a relatively small strip of the Earth's surface. So in any one place it seems that solar eclipses are rare.
During a solar eclipse, the shadow of the Moon falls on the Earth and blocks out the Sun for a few minutes. There are generally two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses each year, depending on the...
There are between 2 and 5 solar eclipses each year. In 2011, there are four solar eclipses, all partial ones. There is also one every ten years
There are generally two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses each year. Because solar eclipses cover a very narrow stripe across the Earth, solar eclipses SEEM TO BE rare - in one particular location. There can be several CENTURIES between total solar eclipses in the same spot. On the other hand, it can be just a few years. There's a town in Illinois that will have two total solar eclipses only 8 years apart, in 2017 and 2024.
Globally, solar eclipses are slightly more frequent. But a lunar eclipse can be seen from any place where the Moon is above the horizon, whereas a solar eclipse can only be seen from a narrow strip of land. So, for any particular fixed observer, solar eclipses - and especially total solar eclipses - are quite rare. 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.
There are normally two solar eclipses each year. However, due to a curious alignment of the Earth, Moon and Sun, there will not be ANY solar eclipses in 2011!
The answer very much depends on the year. One calendar year has a minimum of four eclipses, which are two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. A year can have as many as seven eclipses. So each year is different.
About two per year, since the Moon formed. So, around 4000 solar eclipses (and 4000 lunar eclipses) since the year 1. You can check the list of all eclipses since the year 2000 BC on the NASA Eclipse Web Page at the link below.
There are typically between 2 to 7 eclipses each year, which can be a combination of solar and lunar eclipses. Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, while lunar eclipses happen when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon.
Because the orbit of the Moon is tilted with respect to the orbit of the Earth, there are only a couple of eclipse opportunities each year. Normally, we can expect two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses each year. This year, the alignment isn't QUITE right, so we get two partial and two penumbral eclipses in 2009.
A lunar eclipse can occur multiple times a year, but the frequency can vary. On average, there are about two to four lunar eclipses each year. Lunar eclipses can be partial, total, or penumbral, with total eclipses being less common.