Why are eclipses rare?
The reason eclipses are rare is because they don’t happen every time we have a new moon or full moon. This is because the moon’s orbit is somewhat tilted, about 5 degrees. Because of this the moon orbits slightly above or below the line between the Sun and the Earth, only occasionally being lined up perfectly. Only about every six months do either lunar or solar eclipses happen. Out of the two types of eclipses lunar eclipses happen more frequently, and total solar eclipses are the rarest of all types. To see a total solar eclipse, you have to be in the path of totality. This path is at the most 200 miles wide and it never covers more than one-half of one percent of the Earth’s total surface area. Out of this area it often covers only the sea and the more remote regions of our planet. There are fewer than 70 total eclipses per century, and a chance to see one is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most of us. Effects During a Total Solar Eclipse A total solar eclipse is almost unnoticeable
