Why Don T We Have Eclipses Every Month
Olivia Luz
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon s shadow falls on the earth.
Knowing this and knowing that the moon orbits the earth in a little under a month it seems like we should have eclipses far more often. But we don t get them every month in fact it can take months and months between eclipses of any kind. We don t get an eclipse every month because the moon s orbit is inclined at about 5 to the ecliptic. Why do they not happen every month.
They do not happen every month because the earth s orbit around the sun is not in the same plane as the moon s orbit around the earth. If the sun earth and moon were truly lined up perfect this would be the case. Why we don t get eclipses more often. But we don t get them every month in fact it can take months and months between eclipses of any kind.
Exploratorium senior scientist paul doherty explains why not the orbit of the moon is tilted relative to the orbit of the earth around the sun so the moon often passes below or above earth. Total solar eclipses happen when the moon crosses between the sun and earth and casts its shadow onto our planet but earth doesn t experience a total solar eclipse every month.
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