Why does a lunar eclipse occur either two weeks before or two weeks after a total solar eclipse?

Brian L

2008-02-06 08:04:49 UTC

Because that's how long it takes the moon to rotate halfway around the earth from a point where it's blocking the sun during the day to a point where it's being blocked from the sun by the earth.

And repeating the question several dozen times doesn't make people want to answer it any more.

quantumclaustrophobe

2008-02-06 08:22:55 UTC

For a solar eclipse to occur, the sun, moon, and Earth need to be lined up. In two weeks, the time it takes for the moon to be nearest to the sun to the farthest from the sun, the Earth-moon system is still lined up enough for the lunar eclipse to occur.

Devon

2008-02-06 08:09:03 UTC

Very Simple: The sun, earth and the moon must be in the exact alignment for an eclipse to occur. The rate of orbits puts the three at these times. At other times, the positions of all three are off. Consider speed of orbit, change in angles, etc.

fang_sharp

2008-02-06 08:06:04 UTC

Moon circles earth in a cycle of 4 weeks. solar eclipse occurs when moon is between earth and sun (obscuring light). lunar eclipse occurs when earth is between sun and moon (obscuring light). It's half the rotation, or 2 weeks.

Don't repeat your question, it's annoying.

?

2016-10-17 09:20:13 UTC

Its incredibly easy - in case you remember what motives each style of eclipse. A photograph voltaic eclipse can in easy terms ensue in the time of a clean moon (while the moon is between the Earth and the sunlight, and the Earth passes interior the process the moon's shadow). And a lunar eclipse can in easy terms ensue in the time of an entire moon (while the Earth is between the moon and the sunlight and the moon passes into Earth's shadow). A month is 4 weeks - there are 2 weeks between finished moon and new moon, and between new moon and finished moon.