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Old June 30th 04, 10:39 AM
Tom Kerr
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In article , "Wally Anglesea" wrote:

"Hale" wrote in message
.. .
Hello,

I need to figure out which people have seen mo a lunar or a solar
eclipse. Here is my theory, please tell me if I'm right or wrong (if

wrong,
tell me why)

More people have seen a solar eclipse.

Is it because the 5 degree orbit of the moon w/ respect to the
elliptic. There are very few times a year the moon, Earth, and sun are in
perfect alignment that can cause a lunar eclipse, whereas a solar eclipse
does not matter on the alignment of the three celestial bodies. Is this
correct?


I would imagine that more people have seen Lunar eclipses for the following
reasons:

1: They happen more often.
2: The Earth casts a larger shadow over the moon, so the opportunity for
observation, and the optimum path on Earth is far larger.
3: Totality of a Lunar eclipse lasts longer (because of 2)


Or because a significant proportion of the earth's population can see a
lunar eclipse whereas a solar eclipse can only be seen by someone in the
umbral or prenumbral shadow.