During which celestial alignment do neap tides occur?

Neap tides occur during the celestial alignment where the Earth is at a right angle to the Moon and the Sun. In this configuration, the gravitational effects of the Moon and the Sun partially cancel each other out. As a result, the tides are lower than average, leading to what are called neap tides, which occur approximately twice a month, during the first and third quarters of the lunar cycle.

During this alignment, the gravitational pull of the Sun does not fully reinforce that of the Moon; rather, they act against each other, resulting in a milder tidal range. This is why neap tides are characterized by lower high tides and higher low tides compared to spring tides, which happen when the Sun and Moon are aligned (in a straight line with Earth) and exert their gravitational influence together, causing higher tidal ranges.