👉 Eclipse math involves calculating the precise positions and durations of solar and lunar eclipses using celestial mechanics. For a total solar eclipse, the geometry is defined by the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, where the Moon's shadow falls on Earth. The path of totality, where totality occurs, is a narrow arc. The exact timing and duration of totality depend on the relative positions and velocities of these bodies, described by Kepler's laws of planetary motion. For lunar eclipses, the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, and the calculation involves the Earth-Moon distance and the inclination of the Moon's orbit relative to Earth's orbit around the Sun. The Saros cycle, a period of approximately 18 years and 11 days, helps predict eclipses by accounting for the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon's relative positions. Eclipse math combines trigonometry, orbital mechanics, and precise astronomical data to predict eclipse paths, times, and durations accurately.
