why doesn't each kind of eclipse happen more often?it seems like the sun,earth, moon would line up twice a mth

Answer 1

Because the orbital plane of the Moon around the Earth is at a different angle from the orbital plane of the Earth around the Sun. The Moon crosses the orbital plane of the Earth around the Sun only twice per month. And, in order for there to be an eclipse, the Moon must be exactly between the Earth and the Sun, or almost exactly on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, when it crosses that plane. Most of the time the Moon crosses the orbital plane of the Earth around the Sun too far to the East or West of the line from the Earth to the Sun, to create an eclipse.
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Answer 2

if the moon orbited exactly in line with the equator, that would be true. But, it's about 5% out of line with the equator, meaning, that only during certain instances will a new moon or full moon exactly line up with the Earth & Sun.

Answer 3

The moon doesn't orbit the earth in the same plane as the earth orbits the sun. If it did, then what you ask would be true.

Even so, eclipses happen about 4 times per year (2 solar and 2 lunar), sometimes a little more often, depending on the exact alignment.

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Answer 4

The orbit of the earth around the sun and the orbit of the moon around the earth are not coplanar.

Answer 5

The moon doesn't orbit the earth on the same elliptical plane as the earth orbits the sun.

Answer 6

well according to the statistics the solar system only eclipses according to the orbit of the sun and moon. i love eclipses!!!!

Answer 7

it happens rarely becaus the moon is off by 5 degrees.

Answer 8

The orbits are all crooked. Meaning they aren't all on the same plane.

Answer 9

We need the Sun, Earth and the Moon to be in synch - which are not

Answer 10

u get scared half to death twice and laugh