When do total lunar eclipses occur?(1 point)
Responses
every month during the full moon
every month during the full moon
every month during the new moon
every month during the new moon
infrequently during the full moon
infrequently during the full moon
infrequently during the new moon
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 when total lunar eclipses occur, it's important to know the conditions required for this astronomical event to happen.
During a lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow onto the Moon. There are three types of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral. In a total lunar eclipse, the Moon is completely covered by Earth's shadow, giving it a reddish hue known as a "blood moon."
Now, in terms of frequency, total lunar eclipses do not happen every month. This is because the Moon's orbit around the Earth is inclined by about 5 degrees relative to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. As a result, during most months, the Moon passes either above or below Earth's shadow, resulting in no eclipse.
However, when the alignment is just right, and the full moon coincides with the exact moment when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, a total lunar eclipse occurs. This alignment occurs roughly twice a year. So, total lunar eclipses are relatively infrequent events, happening sporadically during the full moon.