Definitions

Forums General Discussion Definitions… Definitions

#581466
John O’Neill
Participant

Hello James & David.

My thoughts

1. An eclipse is when we see a body in the sky passing into the shadow of another body. Examples are lunar eclipses and eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites. This does not include Solar ‘Eclipses’ as the Earth is not in the sky.

2. Yes, transits occur when a smaller body is silhouetted against a larger body in apparent size. Examples include the Transit of Mercury and Annular ‘Eclipses’ of the Sun.

3.  Occultations occur when a larger body covers a body with smaller apparent diameter. Examples are Total ‘Eclipses’ of the Sun and Asteroids occulting stars.

John