Requirements for seeing a Total Solar Eclipse?

[Sarah0001]

Homework Statement

Does the orbit of the moon, at the time of the new moon have to lie in the same plane as the Earth's Orbit around the Sun for the Moon's shadow to fall onto the Earth ( in order to have a solar eclipse, whether it be partial, total, or annular)?

Relevant Equations

Solar Eclipse

From my understanding, for an observer to see a total solar eclipse, 1) the Moon's orbit has to be near aligned with the Earth's Orbit, 2)such that the New moon's Umbra falls on Earth, and 3) the observer must be within this cast umbra. But for a partial solar eclipse, since the Penumbra of the new moon has a wider casting, does the Moon's orbit still have to be nearly aligned with Earth's?

 

[haruspex]

for an observer to see a total solar eclipse, 1) the Moon's orbit has to be near aligned with the Earth's Orbit,

Umm... why?

 

[Sarah0001]

Umm... why?

I meant the Moon has to be in line with the Earth and Sun

 

[haruspex]

I meant the Moon has to be in line with the Earth and Sun

That is correct, but it does not require the two orbits to be near aligned. It could still happen even with the orbits orthogonal.

 

[Sarah0001]

That is correct, but it does not require the two orbits to be near aligned. It could still happen even with the orbits orthogonal.

Thank you, so the moon just has to cross the straight line path between the Earth and Sun during the new moon phase

 

[haruspex]

Thank you, so the moon just has to cross the straight line path between the Earth and Sun during the new moon phase

Right.