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Does Earth have a tilted orbit?
No. The Earth's orbit is absolutely parallel to the plane of the ecliptic. Of course, the Earth's orbit is DEFINED as the plane of the ecliptic, so this should be no surprise. All of the other planetary orbits are tilted to the plane of the ecliptic, but not by a whole lot. The Moon's orbit, for example, is tilted about 5 degrees to the ecliptic. The axis of the Earth's spin, however, IS tilted by 23.5 degrees to the plane of the ecliptic.
How is the Moon's orbit positioned relative to the ecliptic?
The Moon's orbit is tilted at an angle of about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane, which is the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. This inclination means that the Moon does not always pass directly in front of or behind the Earth in relation to the Sun, leading to the occurrence of eclipses only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align closely at specific points known as nodes. As the Moon orbits Earth, it moves through these nodes, which is why eclipses are relatively rare events.
What is the Moon's orbital plane?
The ecliptic. Because it is the plane that contains the earth as it orbits the sun, by definition it is also the plane that contains the sun as we observe it in its yearly journey through the stars.
Why doesn't a lunar eclipse happen every time there is a full moon?
Because the moon's orbit is slightly inclined from the plane of the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the path that the sun appears to follow in the sky, caused by the path of the earth's orbit around the sun. The moon's orbit is inclined about 5 degrees from the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. The moon crosses the ecliptic about twice per month. If this happens during a new moon, a solar eclipse occurs, during a full moon, a lunar eclipse occurs. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/moonorbit.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon
What needs to be true about the orbit of the moon and earth for a solar eclipse to occur?
For a solar eclipse to occur, the Moon must be positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun, aligning in a straight line. This alignment typically happens during a new moon phase when the Moon is closest to the ecliptic plane. Additionally, the Moon's orbit should be such that it crosses the Earth's orbital path at the right time, allowing the shadow of the Moon to fall on the Earth.
Does Earth have a tilted orbit?
No. The Earth's orbit is absolutely parallel to the plane of the ecliptic. Of course, the Earth's orbit is DEFINED as the plane of the ecliptic, so this should be no surprise. All of the other planetary orbits are tilted to the plane of the ecliptic, but not by a whole lot. The Moon's orbit, for example, is tilted about 5 degrees to the ecliptic. The axis of the Earth's spin, however, IS tilted by 23.5 degrees to the plane of the ecliptic.
How is the Moon's orbit positioned relative to the ecliptic?
The Moon's orbit is tilted at an angle of about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane, which is the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun. This inclination means that the Moon does not always pass directly in front of or behind the Earth in relation to the Sun, leading to the occurrence of eclipses only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align closely at specific points known as nodes. As the Moon orbits Earth, it moves through these nodes, which is why eclipses are relatively rare events.
Why are't all eclipse total eclipse?
The Earth orbits the Sun. The plane of the Earth's orbit is called the "ecliptic". The Moon has its own orbit around the Earth, and its own orbital plane. If the plane of the Moon's orbit was the same as the plane of the Earth's orbit, then there WOULD be solar eclipses at every new moon, and lunar eclipses at every full moon. But the plane of the Moon's orbit is NOT the same as the plane of the Earth's orbit - and really, why would they be? The Moon's orbital plane is inclined by about 5 degrees from the ecliptic. Therefore, eclipses only happen at full and new moons about every six months, when the Moon happens to be crossing the ecliptic.
What is the Moon's orbital plane?
The ecliptic. Because it is the plane that contains the earth as it orbits the sun, by definition it is also the plane that contains the sun as we observe it in its yearly journey through the stars.
Why does the Moon change its phase how does it move and how do these combine to create eclipses?
The Moon is in an elliptical orbit around the Earth, and the Earth is in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. If the Moon's orbit were in the same plane as the ecliptic (the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun) then the Moon would pass directly between the Earth and the Moon every month, and would pass into the Earth's shadow each month. We'd have both lunar and solar eclipses every lunar orbit! But the Moon's orbit is inclined about 5 degrees to the ecliptic, so we only have eclipse opportunities twice a year, when the Moon happens to pass through the ecliptic at the time of full and new moons. That's why there are generally two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses each year. The phases of the Moon are caused by the fact that while the Moon is always half-illuminated byt eh Sun, we Earthlings don't always see the Sunlit side.
Why doesn't a lunar eclipse happen every time there is a full moon?
Because the moon's orbit is slightly inclined from the plane of the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the path that the sun appears to follow in the sky, caused by the path of the earth's orbit around the sun. The moon's orbit is inclined about 5 degrees from the plane of the earth's orbit around the sun. The moon crosses the ecliptic about twice per month. If this happens during a new moon, a solar eclipse occurs, during a full moon, a lunar eclipse occurs. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/moonorbit.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon
What needs to be true about the orbit of the moon and earth for a solar eclipse to occur?
For a solar eclipse to occur, the Moon must be positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun, aligning in a straight line. This alignment typically happens during a new moon phase when the Moon is closest to the ecliptic plane. Additionally, the Moon's orbit should be such that it crosses the Earth's orbital path at the right time, allowing the shadow of the Moon to fall on the Earth.
What if the moon was not in orbit of the earth?
If the moon was not in orbit around the Earth, the tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to the plane of the ecliptic would be unstable. As a result, seasons and climate would be unstable, and life as we know it on Earth would change or disappear.
What must the phase of the moon be for the occurrence of an eclipse of the sun?
It must be New Moon but also the Moon must be at one of its nodes, i.e. crossing the ecliptic, because its orbit is tilted relative to the ecliptic, which is the plane of the Earth's orbit. Usually at New Moon the Moon passes above or below the Sun and there is no eclipse.
What is in orbit with the Earth?
The moon. The earth is in orbit around the sun, but the moon goes with it, orbiting the earth directly and orbiting the sun indirectly.
What a lie along the elliptic?
I think you mean the ecliptic. This refers to the paths of the planets as they orbit the sun. Also, the moon and movement of the sun are on the ecliptic when viewed from earth, which is why we get eclipses, from which the word 'ecliptic' is derived.
Why does not earth experience a lunar eclipse every month?
Eclipses do not happen every month because the Moon is in an orbit that is inclined to the plane of the Earth's orbit, the ecliptic. So although the Moon passes behind the Earth (as seen from the Sun) every month, it usually passes above or below the Earth's shadow. For a lunar eclipse, Full Moon has to occur when the Moon is crossing the ecliptic, when it is said to be at a node.
