The path of a solar eclipse moves eastward because the Moon moves in its orbit faster than the motion of the observer due to Earth’s rotation. The path is influenced more by the Moon’s linear speed, not its angular speed.
The Moon rises from the east and moves westward. Flat-Earthers incorrectly claim if the Moon moves westward, then its shadow should also move westward. In reality, the Moon’s shadow moves across the Earth, not around it. The path is influenced more by the Moon’s linear speed, not angular speed, as in the case of the Moon’s motion across the sky.
References
- Why the Total Solar Eclipse Arrives from the West – Space.com
- Why does the shadow of an eclipse travel west to east? – The Weather Guys
- Why does the observation path for a solar eclipse move from west to east? – Quora
- Since the Sun and Moon move from east to west, why did the eclipse move from west to east? – Astronomy.com