Why Don't Eclipses Happen Every Month?
The Moon's orbit is tilted 5.14° relative to Earth's orbital plane (the ecliptic). Most months at New or Full Moon, the Moon passes above or below the Sun-Earth line. An eclipse requires both syzygy (collinear alignment) AND crossing the Line of Nodes.
Phase Alignment
New Moon (0°)
Node Separation
0.00° (Aligned)
Moon-Earth Distance
363,300 km
Eclipse Magnitude
1.034 (Total)