Why don’t solar eclipses happen more often?

Why don’t solar eclipses happen more often? Today’s Video of the Day comes from NASA Goddard and features a look at why solar eclipses don’t occur more frequently on Earth.

While the moon does pass between the Earth and the sun on a monthly basis, the moon’s orbit is tilted, which places its shadow in a different place each time.

More often than not, the shadow is either too high or too low to fall over Earth. But every so often, the shadow falls in the perfect place, creating a visible solar eclipse.

—

By Rory Arnold, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: NASA Goddard