#aug.22

Causes Solar Eclipses

Two to three times a year, the New Moon phase coincides with the Moon reaching the lunar nodes of its orbit. The lunar nodes are the points where the Moon’s orbit crosses the ecliptic, which is the Sun’s path, seen from Earth. Then, the New Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun and becomes visible as a silhouette in front of the Sun. Solar eclipses can only happen in the hours around New Moon. Lunar eclipses, on the other hand, only occur at Full Moon.