Question

You do not see eclipses every month because ____.

A) The Moon's orbit is inclined
B) The Moon always casts a shadow on Earth
C) Earth's orbit is elliptical
D) The Moon's rotation is synchronized with its orbit

Answer 1

Answer: A) The Moon’s orbit is inclined

Step-by-step explanation:

The reason we don’t see eclipses every month is that the Moon’s orbit is inclined at an angle of 5.14 degrees to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This means that the Moon doesn’t always pass directly between the Sun and the Earth, or directly through the Earth’s shadow. If the Moon’s orbit were perfectly aligned with the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, we would see a solar eclipse every month during the new moon phase and a lunar eclipse every month during the full moon phase. However, because of the Moon’s inclination, eclipses only occur when the Moon is in the right position relative to the Sun and the Earth.

Therefore, the correct answer is A) The Moon’s orbit is inclined.

Answer 2

Eclipses do not occur every month due to the inclination of the Moon's orbit relative to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. However, twice a year, when the paths of the Moon and the Sun cross, it is eclipse season and eclipses are possible.

Step-by-step explanation:

Eclipses do not occur every month because the Moon's orbit is inclined relative to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. The Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees, so during most months, the Moon is either above or below the ecliptic plane, which means it does not pass in front of the Sun or into Earth's shadow. However, twice a year, when the paths of the Moon and the Sun cross, it is eclipse season and eclipses are possible.