Solar and Lunar Eclipses actually occur with equal frequency and duration. Patterns of occurrence and type variation are also nearly identical.

The Greeks, the Babylonians, and even the Sumerians (2000 BCE) observed the Moon long enough and carefully enough to recognize patterns of eclipses, both solar and lunar. They could predict eclipses with extraordinary accuracy. Don’t forget the Mayans and the Incas who also knew of these patterns. Lunar or Solar, eclipses don’t seem to follow any pattern. Visibility locations seem to be random over the Earth and eclipses don’t occur very often... or do they?

It’s time for us to take a closer look at these interval patterns and see if we can predict eclipses as accurately as the ancients.

Dave Bosse has been an amateur astronomer and sky-watcher ever since watching Sputnik cross the Cincinnati skies in 1957. Dave has volunteered as a presenter and lecturer at the Observatory for over 23 years and taught the popular monthly A2Z Astronomy class at the Observatory for 11 years. He has taught Computer Science and Astronomy courses for the University of Cincinnati for 42 years retiring in 2019. He has served as President of FOTO, Trustee of FOTO and member of the COC Board of Trustees. 

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