An is a temporary obscuration of one astronomical object by another passing into its shadow or between it and the observer.

Context: Eclipse as a temporary obscuration event

A is the alignment of three celestial objects that produces an eclipse.

Context: Syzygy and three-body alignment

Eclipses can be caused by , where the source is completely hidden by the intervening object.

Context: Occultation vs transit mechanism

Eclipses can be caused by , where the source is only partially hidden by the intervening object.

Context: Occultation vs transit mechanism

Total solar eclipses are described as , while annular solar eclipses are described as .

Context: Linking eclipse type to occultation vs transit

Observer location relative to shadow regions causes different solar eclipse types: being in the leads to a total eclipse.

Context: Shadow geometry: umbra to total

Observer location relative to shadow regions causes different solar eclipse types: being in the leads to an annular eclipse.

Context: Shadow geometry: antumbra to annular

Observer location relative to shadow regions causes different solar eclipse types: being in the leads to a partial eclipse.

Context: Shadow geometry: penumbra to partial

If orbital planes were coplanar, eclipses would happen every month: lunar eclipses near and solar eclipses near .

Context: Eclipse timing within eclipse seasons (new moon vs full moon)

Eclipse seasons are the two yearly periods when the Moon’s orbital plane intersects the Earth–Sun orbital plane near the .

Context: Eclipse season definition and node-based timing

Eclipse seasons determine which phase can produce an eclipse: solar eclipses occur near during eclipse seasons.

Context: Solar vs lunar timing within an eclipse season

Eclipse seasons determine which phase can produce an eclipse: lunar eclipses occur near during eclipse seasons.

Context: Solar vs lunar timing within an eclipse season

The Moon’s orbital plane being tilted relative to Earth’s orbital plane causes eclipses to not occur every month; instead, eclipses occur only near the Moon’s during eclipse seasons.

Context: Cause→effect: tilt leads to node-based timing

During a lunar eclipse, only and apply because the Sun–Earth antumbra lies far beyond the Moon.

Context: Common confusion: why antumbra does not apply to lunar eclipses

An eclipse cycle repeats in patterns such as the , which repeats eclipses every 6,585.3 days (about 18 years).

Context: Eclipse cycles and the saros