Therefore, at most new moons the Earth passes too far north or south of the lunar shadow, and at most full moons the Moon misses the shadow of the Earth. Also, at most solar eclipses the apparent angular diameter of the Moon is insufficient to fully obscure the solar disc, unless the Moon is near its perigee, "i.e." closer to the Earth and apparently larger than average. In any case, the alignment must be close to perfect to cause an eclipse.