Question

when do total lunar eclipses occur?

Answer 1

Total lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon. It happens only when the Moon is in its full phase. However, not all full moons result in a total lunar eclipse as the Moon's orbit is tilted with respect to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. This tilt causes the Moon to pass above or below the Earth's shadow during most full moons. Therefore, total lunar eclipses can only occur when the Moon is within a specific range of the Earth's shadow, which is why they are relatively rare events.