> In addition, the tidal effect of the Sun's gravitational field increases the eccentricity when the > orbit's major axis is aligned with the Sun-Earth vector

> In addition, the tidal effect of the Sun's gravitational field increases the eccentricity when the > orbit's major axis is aligned with the Sun-Earth vector or, in other words, the Moon is full or new. I don't understand this without a diagram: isn't the major axis of the elliptical orbit independent of the Moon's phase? Or is this an over-abbreviation of the statement, "the effect is most pronounced when the major axis of the orbit is aligned to the Sun-Earth vector, and coincides with a full or new moon"?