Why are solar eclipses seen less commonly than lunar eclipses?

Question

Im thinking its either because solar eclipses occur less frequently or earth's shadow on the moon is larger than the moon's shadow on Earth

Answer 1

It's because the earth's shadow is much larger than the moon's shadow.

When the moon casts its shadow on the earth (i.e. during a solar eclipse), only a small portion of the earth's surface is in the moon's shadow. People in the shaded zone see an eclipse. People outside the shaded zone, don't.

When the earth casts its shadow on the moon (i.e. during a lunar eclipse), the entire moon falls into the shadow - and the eclipse is visible from everywhere on the night-time half of the Earth.

Answer 2

The larger shadow of Earth has a part in it. Because it is larger the window of opportunity for a lunar eclipse is larger than for a solar eclipse.

Solar eclipses actually happen fairly often, they are most often only partial and visible in extreme lattitudes. Even when total eclipses of the sun do occur, one must be near the lunar umbra on the Earth (the umbra is only about 60 miles in diameter at the surface, give or take depending on the eclipse). A lunar eclipse can be seen by anyone who can see the moon. The larger shadow of Earth also means it lasts longer giving more people the opportunity to see it.

Answer 3

It's mostly because of the Earth's tilted axis. If there was no tilt, there would be a lunar and solar eclipse every month. With the Moon being so small it is more likely to get covered by the Earth's shadow more often. With the Sun, being so huge, when the moon passes in front of it, it creates a very narrow shadow. There are many solar eclipses, perhapse almost as many as lunar, however, they appear sparringly all over the world. Also because the Moon rotates around the Earth much faster than the Earth rotates around the sun.

Answer 4

Your second thought is the right one. To view a total solar eclipse you have to be on the path of totality, which is only a few kilometres wide. Lunar eclipses, on the other hand, are visible from the entire hemisphere of the Earth that is turned towards the Moon when the eclipse occurs. I've seen only two total eclipses in my life (and had to travel half way around the world to see one of them), but dozens of lunar eclipses, right from my back yard.