The time interval between one total solar eclipse and the next total solar eclipse, visible from the same location on Earth, must be all of the following EXCEPT ONE. Which is the EXCEPTION?
A)a whole number of lunar months
B)a whole number of sidereal months
C)a whole number of eclipse years
D)a whole number of saros intervals

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time interval between two total solar eclipses visible from the same location on Earth is not a whole number of sidereal months. This is because the synodic month (the time between two consecutive new moons) is slightly longer than the sidereal month (the time it takes the Moon to return to the same position relative to the stars). As a result, the Moon must travel a little bit farther in its orbit to return to the same position relative to the stars, and this means that it takes slightly longer than a whole number of sidereal months for the Earth-Moon-Sun geometry to repeat itself for a total solar eclipse.

The Time Interval Between One Total Solar Eclipse and the Next