As the Moon orbits our planet, it sometimes comes between the Earth and Sun; sunlight falls on the side of the Moon not visible from Earth, and we say that the Moon is in its "new'' phase. Solar eclipses can only occur at the new Moon, but not every new Moon results in a solar eclipse. The Moon's monthly orbit around the Earth is tilted slightly, and it can pass as much as 5 degrees above or below a line between the Earth and Sun. In that case, the Moon's shadow will miss the Earth, and no eclipse will be seen. Thus, a solar eclipse is possible only when the Moon is exactly on that Earth-Sun line, and in the new phase.