Why is a solar eclipse rare?

Answer 1

Total eclipses are considered rare events although they happen on average every 18 months somewhere in the world. The probability of one reoccurring in the same place is something like 370 years.

Answer 2

Solar eclipses are rare because the plane of the orbit of the earth around the sun is tilted about 5 degrees to the plane of the orbit of the moon around the earth. Therefore, at new moon, when the moon comes between the sun and the earth, it almost always is positioned a few degrees above or below the sun, not blocking it. Only rarely does new moon occur when the moon's orbital plane intersects with the earth's orbital plane. When it does, the moon does appear directly in front of the sun and an eclipse occurs.

By the way, the plane of the earth's orbit is called the ecliptic, which gives its name to the phenomena of eclipses.

If the event happens at full moon (earth in between sun and moon) instead of new moon (moon in between sun and earth), a lunar eclipse occurs. These are somewhat more common than solar eclipses because the shadow of the earth is larger than the moon, and so the moon can slightly miss the perfect plane high or low, and still be within the shadow.

Answer 3

The sun must be within 5 degress of the earth-moon plane for an eclipse to occur. The penumbra must be in line with the umbra for an eclipse to occur.

There must be a new moon for a solar eclipse to occur.

None of the above

Answer 4

because they occur in different places at different times - if you were in Victoriayou wouldn't see it at the same time as we would in queensland

Answer 5

Solar eclipse happen only rarely because only rarely does the sun interact with the moon. Since the moon is closer to earth, the moon will cover the sun.