Cool Moon Facts by Whip

Real astronomy, with sources. Folklore & tradition.

Fact #012 Phases & orbit

The Moon passes between us and the Sun every month, and almost never causes an eclipse.

Its orbit is tilted about 5° from Earth's orbital plane, so at most new moons the shadow misses above or below. Eclipses need the Moon to be near one of the two points where the planes cross, the nodes, at the same time it's new or full. That alignment comes around a couple of times a year, in eclipse seasons.

Source: NASA eclipse resources (opens in a new tab) · checked Aug 2026

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