Solar and lunar eclipses are rare because:
A) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2° relative to the plane defined by the Earth's equator
B) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2° relative to the Earth's orbital plane
C) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5° relative to the plane defined by the Earth's equator
D) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5° relative to the Earth's orbital plane
E) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2° relative to the galactic plane

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Moon's orbital plane is inclined by about 5.2° to the Earth's orbital plane (the ecliptic), which means that the Sun, Earth, and Moon do not align perfectly every month, making eclipses rare.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses Are Rare Because