Why doesn't the Earth experience a solar eclipse every month?
A)Unpredictable weather patterns obscure the Moon.
B)The Moon always keeps its same side toward the Earth.
C)The Moon's orbit is not aligned with the Earth's orbit.
D)Sometimes the Moon is too far away.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Moon's orbit is not aligned with the Earth's orbit. Specifically, the Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to Earth's orbit, so it passes above or below the Sun most of the time. Eclipses only occur when the Moon crosses the plane of the Earth's orbit at the exact same time that it lines up with the Sun and Earth. This occurs only a few times a year, which is why solar eclipses are not a monthly occurrence.

Why Doesn't the Earth Experience a Solar Eclipse Every Month