Why Is the Period Between Two Successive Full Moons NOT

question 39

Multiple Choice

Why is the period between two successive full Moons NOT equal to the Moon's orbital period, or sidereal month?

• A) The Earth-Moon system is also orbiting the Sun.
• B) These two time intervals are not related because full-Moon time depends on the Moon's rotation period about its own axis.
• C) The Moon's orbit is inclined at about 5° to Earth's orbital plane.
• D) The Moon's orbit is elliptical, and the Moon therefore moves irregularly around Earth.

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