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Far more people can watch a given lunar eclipse than a given solar eclipse. What is the reason?
AThe Moon is closer than the Sun
BThe Moon's shadow is far wider
CIt lasts a whole day and night
DThe whole night side can see it
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. The whole night side can see it
1. In a lunar eclipse it is the Moon that dims, and everyone who can see the Moon sees it dim.
2. The Moon is visible from the entire night hemisphere of Earth at once.
3. So a lunar eclipse is on show for half the planet.
4. In a solar eclipse it is the Moon's shadow that has to land on you.
5. That shadow tip covers only a thin band, the eclipse path, a few thousand kilometers wide.
6. So far fewer people are standing in the right place for a solar eclipse.
7. The claim that the Moon's shadow is far wider inverts the real geometry.
8. Duration is not the deciding factor either, though lunar eclipses do last longer.
_Source: OpenStax Astronomy (CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Earth, Moon, and Sky" and Ch 5 "Radiation and Spectra", section 4.7 Eclipses of the Sun and Moon_
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