why do partial eclipses of the moon occur more frequently than total solar eclipses?

Answer 1

Your question is wrong, it's TOTAL lunar eclipses.

Partial SOLAR eclipses are seen over a WIDE area, it the TOTAL that's rare!

With Solar Eclipses you have to be in a very NARROW band where the disk of the MOON totally blocks out the sun.

In the case of Lunar Eclipses, the shadow of the Earth is 3-4 times LARGER than the moon so TOTALITY is seen over a FAR WIDER AREA.

Solar Eclipse bands are like 20 miles plus or minus

Lunar Eclipse bands are like 1,000 miles plus or minus.

Answer 2

I'm not sure that they do. Using the source I found 9 partial lunar eclipses and 14 total solar eclipses in the years from 2000 - 2020, So it seems as if you have it reversed. Partial eclipses of the moon occur LESS frequently than total solar eclipses. I would expect that since a total solar eclipse happens somewhere on Earth any time the center of the Moon's shadow hits anywhere on the 8,000 mile wide Earth while a partial Lunar eclipse only happens when the edge of the Earth's shadow hits anywhere on the 2,400 mile wide Moon. Now there are two edges to the shadow, so there are twice as many chances for the Moon to hit an edge, but that would seem to be the same chance as if the Moon were twice as wide and there was only one edge, and 4,800 is still smaller than 8,000. When I say edge, I am thinking in one dimension. The Moon cannot cross the edge just anywhere. It must cross at the top or bottom edge (when looking at the cone of the shadow in profile, so it looks like a triangle) and not pass completely into the shadow, because then it would be a total and not a partial eclipse. But the center of the Moon's shadow can cross any part of the Earth's disk to make a total solar eclipse. Also, remember, the chance of the shadow hitting does not depend on the area, only the diameter, because the shadow moves in a straight line across the disk. If the line crosses the disk anywhere, it causes an eclipse. Of course if the line crosses near the edge of the disk, the eclipse is of shorter duration, but it still counts as an eclipse.

Answer 3

Someone’s guessing answers again (above).

The lunar eclipse is a result of the moon passing into the earth’s shadow.

The Solar eclipse is the Earth passing across the moon’s shadow.

The Earth’s shadow is much bigger than the moon’s shadow so the moon will encounter it far more often.

It is as simple as that.

Answer 4

Given the degree differences in the orbits, I would say it is more likely for the moon to move somewhat in the earths shadow more than the earth to move in the moons shadow. However........(ta da) as much as the earth is large and causes a large shadow for the itsy bitsy moon to pass thru, it is just as large a target for the itsy bitsy moon's shadow to hit. So you are looking for the same chances for both events.

I am sorry but I believe the question was worded correctly, someone just didnt hear it right.

Answer 5

becasue while its passing its also rotating slowly or light is being positiond while the movemont