BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
Why are solar eclipses rare?
While the Moon orbits Earth every month, its orbit is tilted compared to Earth's orbit around the Sun. This means the Moon usually passes above or below the Sun from our viewpoint. A solar eclipse only occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align perfectly, which doesn't happen very often.
Related explainers
What causes a solar eclipse? When is the next big UK eclipse? How to watch an eclipse safely? Why are eclipses rare? Why are eclipses rare research chances? What is a partial solar eclipse? How rare are total eclipses? What's a solar eclipse?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under S →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.