Eclipse
Eclipse Seasons and Their Frequency
Only some people on Earth see an eclipse at a given time because eclipses have a relatively small area of visibility due to the size and position of the Moon's shadow. The Moon's shadow during a solar eclipse, for example, creates a narrow path on Earth where the eclipse is total. Beyond this path, observers see only a partial eclipse or none at all.
Limited Visibility of Eclipses
An eclipse season occurs approximately every six months, resulting in the possibility of both a solar and a lunar eclipse within a relatively short time frame. Eclipse seasons are tied to the Moon's orbital nodes, which are the points where the Moon's orbit intersects the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic). Eclipse seasons are not seasons in the traditional sense; rather, they are periods when the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon is favorable for eclipses. They occur because the Moon's orbit is inclined (tilted) relative to Earth's orbit.