Eclipse cycle

An eclipse cycle is a recurring interval or pattern in which the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so eclipses can occur or similar eclipses repeat.

Saros: A period of about 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours after which similar solar and lunar eclipses recur. It is the best-known cycle for predicting a recurrence of similar eclipses.
Lunar orbit: The path the Moon follows around Earth, tilted about five degrees to Earth's orbital plane. Its tilt explains why most new moons and full moons do not produce eclipses.
Exeligmos: A period of three Saros cycles, about 54 years and 34 days, after which an eclipse recurs at a similar longitude. It compensates for the Saros's extra eight hours, which shift eclipse visibility westward.
Babylonian astronomy: The mathematical study of celestial motions developed by scholars in ancient Babylonia. Babylonian records and methods supported eclipse prediction through recurring patterns.
Draconic month: The time the Moon takes to return to the same ascending or descending node of its orbit. Eclipses require the Moon to be near a node when it reaches new or full phase.
Ecliptic: The apparent annual path of the Sun across the sky, corresponding to Earth's orbital plane. Lunar nodes are defined by the Moon's crossings of this plane.
Saros series: A sequence of eclipses separated by one Saros, beginning and ending as orbital geometry gradually changes. Each Saros cycle belongs to a finite series with evolving eclipse paths.
Eclipse prediction: The calculation of when and where solar or lunar eclipses will occur. Cycle-based prediction turns recurring alignments into usable forecasts.
Synodic month: The average interval between successive new moons, about 29.53 days. Its alignment of lunar phase with the Sun supplies the new or full moons needed for eclipses.
New moon: The lunar phase when the Moon lies approximately between Earth and the Sun. A solar eclipse requires new moon to coincide with a node.

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Saros cycleNarrower topic: The Saros is one eclipse cycle among several, each matching different aspects of lunar motion.