The coming solar eclipse is rare. How often does it happen?

You may have heard that a really cool total solar eclipse is happening soon — and that you shouldn't miss it, because they're rare. But just how rare?A total solar eclipse — when the moon passes in between the sun and Earth and completely blocks the sun for a few minutes or so — is on average visible somewhere on our planet every 18 months. But over 70 percent of our planet's surface is ocean, so being in an accessible viewing place (on land) is much rarer. And rarer yet is liv