A lunar orbit refers to the path that the Moon takes as it revolves around the Earth. This orbit is elliptical, meaning it is not a perfect circle, and it takes about 27.3 days to complete one full cycle. The gravitational pull of the Earth keeps the Moon in this orbit, while the Moon's own gravity affects the Earth, leading to phenomena like tides. The Moon orbits the Earth at an average distance of about 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers). Its orbit is tilted about 5 degrees relative to the Earth's orbit around the Sun, which is why eclipses do not occur every month.