How often do lunar eclipses occur?

Introduction. What is an eclipse of the Moon? What causes eclipses and why? How often do eclipses happen and when is the next eclipse of the Moon? You'll learn the answers to these questions and more in MrEclipse's primer on lunar eclipses. read more

You'll learn the answers to these questions and more in MrEclipse's primer on lunar eclipses. The Moon is a cold, rocky body about 2,160 miles (3,476 km) in diameter. read more

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind Earth and into its shadow. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and the Moon are aligned (in syzygy) exactly or very closely so, with the planet in between. Hence, a lunar eclipse can occur only on the night of a full moon. read more

How Often Do Solar and Lunar Eclipses Occur Most years have 4 eclipses, which is the minimum number of eclipses that take place in a year; 2 of these 4 eclipses are always solar eclipses. While rare, the maximum number of eclipses that can take place in a calendar year is 7. read more