An eclipse is an astronomical event which occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three celestial objects is known as a syzygy. An eclipse is the result of either an occultation or a transit. A "deep eclipse" is when a small astronomical object is behind a bigger one.
Totality during the 1999 solar eclipse. Solar prominences can be seen along the limb (in red) as well as extensive coronal filaments.
The shadow of an eclipse on Earth as seen from space
The progression of a solar eclipse on August 1, 2008, viewed from Novosibirsk, Russia. The time between shots is three minutes.
This print shows Parisians watching the solar eclipse of July 28, 1851
In astronomy, a syzygy is a roughly straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies in a gravitational system.
A syzygy occurs during eclipses (numbers 1, 2, 3, 4).
Jupiter (top), Venus (lower left), and Mercury (lower right) above La Silla Observatory, Chile (May 26, 2013)
Apparent planetary alignment involving Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn; the Moon is also shown, as the brightest object.
