2007-06-17 06:24:56 · 8 answers · asked by Lillpill 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Because the Earth, moon and sun are not perfectly aligned on months when eclipses do not occur.
2007-06-17 06:29:09 · answer #1 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
There are two types of eclipses (on earth) - lunar and solar. A lunar eclipse happens when the shadow of the earth falls over the moon. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between earth and the sun. The reason it doesn't occur every month is because the 3 objects do not align every month, and this is because the orbit of the moon is not in the same plane as the orbit of the earth around the sun, instead being tilted ~5 degrees to it.
2007-06-17 06:33:12 · answer #2 · answered by Fuller 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because the Moon's orbital plane does not lie exactly in the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun (It's tilted a bit). Twice a month, the moon passes through Earth's orbital plane. Only if the Earth, Moon and Sun are lined up at these times can you have an eclipse. If the alignment is Sun-Moon-Earth in a straight line, it's a solar eclipse. If the alignment is Sun-Earth-Moon, it's a lunar eclipse. Partial eclipses are possible if this alignment is less than perfect.
2007-06-17 06:36:42 · answer #3 · answered by Dave O 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The sun, Earth and the moon line up when an eclipse occurs. The order of the line-up dictates whether it is a solar eclipse or a lunar eclipse. Your position on Earth affects whether you are able to view an eclipse, making them rare for any one given place.
2007-06-17 07:03:02 · answer #4 · answered by Monicagator 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, they don't happen each month. that is with the aid of fact the orbit of the moon isn't precisely interior the airplane of the orbit of the earth around the solar. The orbit is eccentric, so basically for the duration of particular months does the moon come between the earth and the solar (photograph voltaic eclipse), or does the earth come between the solar and the moon (lunar eclipse). extra human beings witness a finished lunar eclipse with the aid of fact the shadow of the earth on the moon is plenty larger than the angular (seen) length of the moon, while the shadow of the moon on the earth (photograph voltaic eclipse) is nearly the precisely comparable angular (seen) length of the solar. with the aid of this, basically at an actual spot on the earth is a finished photograph voltaic eclipse seen, while at many places in the worldwide the finished lunar eclipse is seen.
2016-11-25 03:17:34 · answer #5 · answered by segerman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a matter of distance and size. A solar ecclipse occurs when the moon is directly in the path of the sun's light. Because of the smallness of the moon and greatness of the sun, this occurs seldom and usually only affects a small area of the earth.
A lunar ecclipse is when the earth moves in the path of the sun's rays reflecting onto the moon. Because of the earth's relative greatness to the moon these happen more frequently. But slightly erratic orbits and size ratio decreases the chances of all of the elements required to occur simultaneously for an ecclipse to happen.
2007-06-17 06:35:31 · answer #6 · answered by nunya b 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Eclipses happen when sysygy occurs at the nodes.
2007-06-17 09:37:52 · answer #7 · answered by Uncle Al 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The plane of the moon's orbit around the earth is not parallel to the plane of the earths orbit around the sun.
2007-06-17 08:29:47 · answer #8 · answered by anonimous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋