The answer is: a total lunar eclipse
It is because the moon's orbit is tilted with respect to the ecliptic by about five degrees, meaning that at most new or full moons, the moon passes above or below the Earth's shadow, preventing an eclipse.
The moon orbits the Earth and it is tilted by five degrees to the Earth's ecliptic plane, so that the moon will either be above or below the ecliptic at most full moons, this in turn prevents the moon from entering the Earth's shadow - hence no lunar eclipse.
The next full moon will typically occur after about 14-15 days from a new moon. This is because the lunar cycle lasts approximately 29.5 days, meaning it takes that long for the moon to go from new moon to full moon and back to new moon again.
The Earth goes round the Sun in an orbit, while the Moon travels round the Earth. If those orbits were in exactly the same plane we would have a solar eclipse at every new Moon and a lunar eclipse at every Full Moon. The Moon's orbit is at an angle to the Earth's, so at most full/new moons the Moon is above or below the plane of the Earth's orbit (known as the ecliptic). But if the Moon is crossing the ecliptic at full or new moon, we get an eclipse.
The most significant effect would be no more lunar eclipses, as they occur when the Moon's orbital plane intersects the ecliptic plane. Additionally, there would be a more regular pattern to solar eclipses, which currently occur when the Moon crosses the ecliptic plane at the right angle. It could also affect tidal patterns on Earth due to the altered gravitational forces.
Almost. It's when the Full Moon is on the ecliptic.
Because the orbit of the Moon has a variable angle compared to the ecliptic plane.
The plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun is called the "ecliptic". Most of the other planets and moons orbit in planes that are close to the ecliptic, but none of them have orbital planes that are exactly the same. The Moon's orbital plane is about 8 degrees angled to the ecliptic. So most times, the Moon is either above the ecliptic at the new or full, or below it. It is only when the new moon is on the eclliptic that we have a solar eclipse, and only when the full moon is on the ecliptic that we have a lunar eclipse.
It is because the moon's orbit is tilted with respect to the ecliptic by about five degrees, meaning that at most new or full moons, the moon passes above or below the Earth's shadow, preventing an eclipse.
It is because the moon's orbit is tilted with respect to the ecliptic by about five degrees, meaning that at most new or full moons, the moon passes above or below the Earth's shadow, preventing an eclipse.
The Moon's orbital plane is tilted about 5 degrees to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital plane), so the Sun, the Moon and Earth do not perfectly align every new moon or full moon. We can have an eclipse only if the alignment of the three bodies happens along the intersection of the two orbital planes.
The lunar nodes are the orbital nodes of the Moon, that is, the points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic. The ascending node is where the moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic. The descending node is where it crosses to the south.
The plane in which the Moon moves around Earth is not exactly aligned with the Ecliptic (the plane of Earth's orbit). Thus, the Moon usually passes north or south of the point where there would be an eclipse.
The moon's orbit is not in sync with the ecliptic plane, it is tilted off the ecliptic by about 5 degrees, this means that at New Moon the moon will sometimes pass above or below the sun, which prevents a solar eclipse from occurring. Likewise at Full Moon, the Earth's shadow will miss the moon at times since the moon too high up or low down, this prevents a lunar eclipse.
The moon orbits the Earth and it is tilted by five degrees to the Earth's ecliptic plane, so that the moon will either be above or below the ecliptic at most full moons, this in turn prevents the moon from entering the Earth's shadow - hence no lunar eclipse.
The moon's orbit is not aligned to the ecliptic, it is tilted by about 5 degrees, because if this the Earth's shadow misses the moon so a lunar eclipse does not occur.
At a full moon.