A lunar eclipse occurs about two times per year on average, but the number can range from two to five times in a year. Total lunar eclipses, a subset of lunar eclipses where the entire Moon is covered by Earth's shadow, happen roughly every 2.5 years at any given location. Partial lunar eclipses occur about once a year or every two years. The frequency of lunar eclipses is affected by the tilt of the Moon’s orbit relative to Earth’s orbit, so they do not happen every full moon. In summary:
- On average, two lunar eclipses happen per year worldwide.
- The maximum number can be up to five lunar eclipses in a year (rare).
- A total lunar eclipse occurs approximately every 2.5 years at a given location.
- Partial lunar eclipses generally occur once a year or every two years.
This means lunar eclipses are relatively common astronomical events, visible from anywhere on the night side of Earth when they occur.
