The new Moon happens about once a month, and is often described as happening when theMoon passes between the Sun and the Earth. Why isn't there an eclipse during every new Moon?
A)The apparent size of the Moon is only occasionally large enough to block the Sun.
B)The Moon is not actually directly between the Earth and the Sun during the new Moonbecause its orbit is tilted relative to the ecliptic plane.
C)The Moon is not actually directly between the Earth and the Sun during the new Moonbecause its orbit is tilted relative to the celestial equator.
D)The Moon can only block the Sun when it is furthest away from Earth, and most new Moonshappen when the Moon is at another place on its orbit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Moon's orbit is tilted relative to the ecliptic plane (the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun), so during most new Moons, the Moon is not directly between the Sun and the Earth. Therefore, there is not an eclipse during every new Moon. The Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane (the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun). This means that during most new Moons, the Moon passes above or below the Sun, rather than directly between the Sun and Earth, which is necessary for an eclipse to occur.

The New Moon Happens About Once a Month, and Is