When do total lunar eclipses occur? (1 point)
infrequently during the full moon
every month during the full moon
every month during the new moon
infrequently during the new moon
Total lunar eclipses occur infrequently during the full moon.
Total lunar eclipses occur infrequently during the full moon.
Total lunar eclipses occur infrequently during the full moon. To understand why, it's important to have some basic knowledge of lunar eclipses.
A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth comes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. This alignment can only occur during a full moon because it requires the Sun, Earth, and Moon to be in a straight line.
However, not every full moon results in a lunar eclipse. This is because the Moon's orbit around the Earth is tilted relative to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. As a result, most of the time, the Moon passes slightly above or below the Earth's shadow, causing a partial lunar eclipse or no eclipse at all. Total lunar eclipses occur when the alignment is precise, and the Moon passes through the darkest central part of the Earth's shadow, also known as the umbra.
Since the alignment needed for a total lunar eclipse to occur is relatively rare, these eclipses happen infrequently during the full moon. It is not every month during the full moon or every month during the new moon. Similarly, total lunar eclipses do not occur frequently during the new moon since the Moon is typically not visible during this phase.