Why Are Solar Eclipses Only Visible in Some Places?

This 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains eclipses of the sun and why they can't be seen everywhere.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• science
• astronomy
• ask
• astronomer
• Susan
• Stolovy
• sun
• solar
• eclipse
• ecliptic
• umbra
• penumbra

[niposs]

that means we have solar eclipse everytime when the moon is on our side?

[SpitzerJim]

No. The moon's orbit is tilted slightly from Earth's orbit around the Sun, so we only get an eclipse when the Moon is new and the the orbits are also crossing. We explain that in a little more detail in our video called "What causes an eclipse of the Moon?"

[ebrown405]

Thanks for the great info! ;)

[SpitzerJim]

You're welcome!

[kakakkakashi]

now i understand!

[edgarok75]

I fell in love

[paggi93]

a very informative vid

[orrestrnden]

the earth is tanding still ... gimme a break

[Blondets1]

There is something you left out like the fact that the moon's orbit is offset from the the plane of the ecliptic The reason for an eclipse is that at set times the moon crosses the plane of the eclipse either in front of the sun or behind the earth for the lunar eclipse.

[superfit33]

The earth is standing still, the sun and moon revolve around the earth every day. The penumbra always travels from west to east in approximately six hours. If the earth were spinning from west to east, the shadow would travel in the opposite direction. Also, if it took the moon 29.5 days to orbit, the eclipse would last 7 days. Also, looking at the sun during an eclipse, the moon passes from right to left, but is always travelling the other direction at every other time.

[azaquihel]

weird i get to see two at my country but i think one was not total

[adsonkool]

nice

[enattila]

OMG this is not English