During which phase of the Moon do solar eclipses occur?

• A. New Moon
• B. Full Moon
• C. First Quarter
• D. Third Quarter

Answer: (A)

Solar eclipses happen when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth, blocking sunlight from reaching part of the Earth. That alignment occurs during the New Moon phase, when the Moon is near the Sun in our sky. However, the Moon’s orbit is tilted a bit relative to Earth’s orbit, so this perfect alignment doesn’t happen every New Moon. Eclipses occur only during specific times called eclipse seasons when the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up near the Moon’s nodes. If alignment occurs near Full Moon, you’d get a lunar eclipse instead, because the Earth would be between the Sun and the Moon. The First Quarter and Third Quarter phases don’t provide the necessary alignment for the Sun’s light to be blocked by the Moon.