Why are solar eclipses so short compared to lunar eclipses?

[nukeman]

Is it just because the moon moves in and out of view quicker than the Earth moving in and out of view as to a lunar eclipse?

I can't find a simpe definition out there?

Thanks!

 

[zhermes]

I think its mostly because the Earth's shadows is significantly larger than that of the moon. In a solar eclipse, the entire sun is only blocked for a small region on the surface of the Earth (i.e. not even the entire Earth is in the moon's shadow). For a lunar eclipse, more than the total moon is covered in shadow (i.e. even if the moon moves a little, it's still entirely in the shadow).

 

[Algr]

That's right. It boils down to the Earth itself being much larger then the moon, so it takes a while for the moon to get through Earth's large shadow. But as Zhermes said above, the moon's shadow doesn't even cover most of the Earth.

Also because the moon is much less nutritious then the sun so the demons have to spend longer eating it before they are full. :)

 

[DaveC426913]

Also because the moon is much less nutritious then the sun so the demons have to spend longer eating it before they are full. :)

 

[pmacias]

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth's surface. The moon is much smaller than the Earth, so its shadow only covers a small area on the Earth's surface. This means that the total duration of a solar eclipse is shorter compared to a lunar eclipse, where the Earth's shadow covers a larger area on the moon's surface. Additionally, the Earth is rotating faster than the moon, so the moon moves in and out of the Earth's shadow more quickly during a lunar eclipse. So, the combination of the moon's smaller size and the Earth's faster rotation results in a shorter duration for solar eclipses compared to lunar eclipses.