The big day is coming soon. On Monday afternoon, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross over 12 states, crossing from Texas to Maine. Millions of people are expected to travel to see it.
In fact, this is the second time in seven years that day has suddenly turned to night in a magical few minutes as the orbiting moon blocks the sun’s light along its path from southwest to northeast across the continent.
But why don’t lunar eclipses happen more often as part of the eclipse cycle? According to NASA, the answer is simple. According to NASA, the Earth and Moon’s orbits are not synchronized and only occasionally coincide for brief periods to form eclipses.
Specifically, the moon’s orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees compared to the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun. Because of this tilt, the moon typically appears to pass either above or below the sun when seen from Earth, according to NASA.
What is a solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the three celestial spheres – the sun, moon, and earth – line up in a particular way in space.
According to NASA, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s orbit aligns with Earth’s and passes between the sun and Earth. It casts a moving shadow over the Earth, completely or partially blocking the sun’s light in some areas. This causes partial or complete darkness over small areas of the Earth.
According to EarthSky, a solar eclipse occurs during a new moon. However, a lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon when the Earth, Sun, and Moon align in space.
Why don’t solar eclipses occur? every Full moon and new moon?
If the Earth’s orbit and the Moon’s orbit were aligned, they would occur every month. However, the moon’s orbit is slightly out of sync with Earth’s, so the two orbits only occasionally coincide.
EarthSky explains: “If the Moon orbited in the same plane as the ecliptic (the plane of Earth’s orbit), there would be at least two solar eclipses each month. There would be a lunar eclipse at every full moon.”
A solar eclipse then occurs at the new moon about two weeks later, for a total of at least 24 solar eclipses a year.
Total solar eclipse in the US is rare: the next one won’t happen for 20 years
According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse seen over the United States after April will be on August 23, 2044, the first time in more than 20 years.
And that solar eclipse won’t be as close to home as the 2024 solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse in 2044 will only affect Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the Planetary Society, a nonprofit research, public service and political organization. Space defense. Another total solar eclipse is scheduled to pass over the United States in 2045, bringing it closer to home for Americans, including those living in California, Florida, and Nevada.