Saros (astronomy)

The saros ( i /ˈsɛərɒs/) is a period of approximately 223

synodic months (approximately 6585.3211 days, or 18 No eclipse e
lips
years and 11 days and 8h), that can be used to predict moon
r a l ec
b
um ips
e
eclipses of the Sun and Moon. One saros period after
a l / Pen ecl
moon rt i a l ) e
an eclipse, the Sun, Earth, and Moon return to approx- Pa br ips
l (Um l ) ecl
imately the same relative geometry, a near straight line, Tot
a bra se
moon
(Um l e clip
and a nearly identical eclipse will occur, in what is re- a l bra
moon Tot
ferred to as an eclipse cycle. A sar is one half of a P e num
/
tial
Par
moon
saros.[1]
moon
A series of eclipses that are separated by one saros is
called a saros series.
moon
No eclipse

1 History
Descending node lunar eclipse paths

The earliest discovered historical record of what we call
the saros is by the Chaldeans (ancient Babylonian as-
tronomers) in the last several centuries BC.[2][3][4] It was
later known to Hipparchus, Pliny[5] and Ptolemy.[6]
The name “saros” (Greek: σάρος) was applied to the
eclipse cycle by Edmond Halley in 1691, who took it from
the Suda, a Byzantine lexicon of the 11th century. The
Suda says, "[The saros is] a measure and a number among
Chaldeans. For 120 saroi make 2222 years according to
the Chaldeans’ reckoning, if indeed the saros makes 222
lunar months, which are 18 years and 6 months.”[7] The
information in the Suda in turn was derived directly or
otherwise from the Chronicle of Eusebius of Caesarea,
which quoted Berossus. (Guillaume Le Gentil claimed
that Halley’s usage was incorrect in 1756, but the name
continues to be used.) The Greek word apparently comes
from the Babylonian word “sāru” meaning the number
3600.[8]
Mechanical calculation of the cycle is built into the
Antikythera mechanism.
2 Description
The saros, a period of 6585.3211 days (14 common years
+ 4 leap years + 11.321 days, or 13 common years +
5 leap years + 10.321 days),{ref required !} is useful
for predicting the times at which nearly identical eclipses
will occur. Three periodicities related to lunar orbit, the
synodic month, the draconic month, and the anomalistic
month coincide almost perfectly each saros cycle. For
an eclipse to occur, either the Moon must be located After one saros, the Moon will have completed roughly
between the Earth and Sun (for a solar eclipse) or the an integer number of lunar orbit cycles and synodic, dra-
Lunar eclipses occurring near the Moon’s ascending node are
given odd saros series numbers. The first eclipse in such series
passes through the southern edge of the Earth’s shadow, and the
Moon’s path is shifted northward each successive saros.
Earth must be located between the Sun and Moon (for a
lunar eclipse). This can happen only when the Moon is
new or full, respectively, and repeat occurrences of these
lunar phases result from solar and lunar orbits produc-
ing the Moon’s synodic period of 29.53059 days. Dur-
ing most full and new moons, however, the shadow of
the Earth or Moon falls to the north or south of the other
body. Eclipses occur when the three bodies form a nearly
straight line. Because the plane of the lunar orbit is in-
clined to that of the earth, this condition occurs only when
a full or new Moon is near or in the ecliptic plane, that is
when the moon is at one of the two nodes (the ascending
or descending node). The period of time for two suc-
cessive lunar passes through the ecliptic plane (return-
ing to the same node) is termed the draconic month, a
27.21222 day period. The three-dimensional geometry
of an eclipse, when the new or full moon is near one of
the nodes, occurs every 5 or 6 months when the Sun is in
conjunction or opposition to the Moon and coincidentally
also near a node of the Moon’s orbit at that time, or twice
per eclipse year. Two Saros eclipses have the same ap-
pearance and duration due to the distance between the
Earth and Moon being nearly the same for each event
because the Saros eclipse cycle is also an integer of the
anomalistic month, the period of the eccentricity of lunar
orbit, 27.5545 days.

1
2 3 SAROS SERIES

conic, and anomalistic periods (241, 223, 242, and 239)

and the Earth-Sun-Moon geometry will be nearly iden-
tical: the Moon will have the same phase and be at the
same node and the same distance from the Earth. In ad-
dition, because the saros is close to 18 years in length
(about 11 days longer), the earth will be nearly the same
distance from the sun, and tilted to it in nearly the same
orientation (same season).[9] Given the date of an eclipse,
one saros later a nearly identical eclipse can be predicted.
During this 18-year period, about 40 other solar and lunar
eclipses take place, but with a somewhat different geom-
etry. One saros equaling 18.03 years is not equal to a
perfect integer number of lunar orbits (earth revolutions
with respect to the fixed stars of 27.32166 days sidereal
month), therefore, even though the relative geometry of
the Earth-Sun-Moon system will be nearly identical after
a saros, the Moon will be in a slightly different position
with respect to the stars for each eclipse in a Saros series.
The axis of rotation of the Earth-Moon system exhibits a
precession period of 18.59992 years).
The saros is not an integer number of days, but con-
tains the fraction of 1 ⁄3 of a day. Thus each successive Solar eclipses occurring near the Moon’s descending node are
eclipse in a saros series occurs about 8 hours later in the given even saros series numbers. The first eclipse of each series
day. In the case of an eclipse of the Sun, this means that starts at the southern limb of the Earth and the eclipse’s path is
shifted northward with each successive saros.
the region of visibility will shift westward about 120°, or
about one third of the way around the globe, and the two
eclipses will thus not be visible from the same place on takes between 1226 and 1550 years for the members of
Earth. In the case of an eclipse of the Moon, the next a saros series to traverse the Earth’s surface from north
eclipse might still be visible from the same location as to south (or vice versa). These extremes allow from 69
long as the Moon is above the horizon. Given three saros to 87 eclipses in each series (most series have 71 or 72
eclipse intervals, the local time of day of an eclipse will eclipses). From 39 to 59 (mostly about 43) eclipses in a
be nearly the same. This three saros interval (19,755.96 given series will be central (that is, total, annular, or hy-
days) is known as a triple saros or exeligmos (Greek: brid annular-total). At any given time, approximately 40
“turn of the wheel”) cycle. different saros series will be in progress.
Saros series are numbered according to the type of eclipse
(solar or lunar) and whether they occur at the Moon’s
3 Saros series ascending or descending node.[12][13] Odd numbers are
used for solar eclipses occurring near the ascending node,
Each saros series starts with a partial eclipse (Sun first whereas even numbers are given to descending node so-
enters the end of the node), and each successive saros lar eclipses. For lunar eclipses, this numbering scheme
the path of the Moon is shifted either northward (when is somewhat random. The ordering of these series is de-
near the descending node) or southward (when near the termined by the time at which each series peaks, which
ascending node) due to the fact that the saros is not an ex- corresponds to when an eclipse is closest to one of the lu-
act integer of draconic months (about one hour short). At nar nodes. For solar eclipses, the 40 series numbered be-
some point, eclipses are no longer possible and the series tween 117 and 156 are active, whereas for lunar eclipses,
terminates (Sun leaves the beginning of the node). Arbi- there are now 41 active saros series.
trary dates were established by compilers of eclipse statis-
tics. These extreme dates are 2000 BCE and 3000 CE.
Saros series, of course, went on before and will continue 3.1 Example
after these dates. Since the first eclipse of 2000 BCE was
not the first in its saros, it is necessary to extend the saros As an example of a single saros series, this table gives
series numbers backwards beyond 0 to negative numbers the dates of some of the 72 lunar eclipses for saros se-
to accommodate eclipses occurring in the years follow- ries 131. This eclipse series began in AD 1427 with a
ing 2000 BCE. The saros −13 is the first saros to ap- partial eclipse at the southern edge of the Earth’s shadow
pear in these data. For solar eclipses the statistics for the when the Moon was close to its descending node. In each
complete saros series within the era between 2000 BCE successive saros, the Moon’s orbital path is shifted north-
and 3000 CE are given in this article’s references.[10][11] It ward with respect to the Earth’s shadow, with the first to-

tal eclipse occurring in 1950. For the following 252 years,
total eclipses occur, with the central eclipse in 2078. The
first partial eclipse after this will occur in the year 2220,
and the final partial eclipse of the series will occur in
2707. The total lifetime of lunar saros series 131 is 1280
years.
1
Because of the ⁄3 fraction of days in a saros, the visibility
of each eclipse will differ for an observer at a given locale.
For the lunar saros series 131, the first total eclipse of
1950 had its best visibility for viewers in Eastern Europe
and the Middle East because mid-eclipse was at 20:44
UT. The following eclipse in the series occurred about 8
hours later in the day with mid-eclipse at 4:47 UT, and
was best seen from North America and South America.
The third total eclipse occurred about 8 hours later in the
day than the second eclipse with mid-eclipse at 12:43 UT,
and had its best visibility for viewers in the Western Pa-
cific, East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. This cycle
of visibility repeats from the start to the end of the series,
with minor variations.
For a similar example for solar saros see solar saros 136.
4 Relationship between lunar and
solar saros (sar)
After a given lunar or solar eclipse, after 9 years and 5.5
days (a half saros) an eclipse will occur that is lunar in-
stead of solar, or vice versa, with similar properties.[14] [10] Meeus, Jean (2004). Ch. 18 “About Saros and Inex series”
For example, if the moon’s penumbra partially covers the
southern limb of the earth during a solar eclipse, 9 years
and 5.5 days later a lunar eclipse will occur in which the [11] Espenak, Fred; Jean Meeus (October 2006). “Five Mil-
moon is partially covered by the southern limb of the
earth’s penumbra. Likewise, 9 years and 5.5 days after
a total solar eclipse occurs, a total lunar eclipse will also
occur. This 9-year period is referred to as a sar. It in-
cludes 111.5 synodic months, or 111 synodic months plus [12] G. van den Bergh (1955). Periodicity and Variation of
one fortnight. The fortnight accounts for the alternation
between solar and lunar eclipse. For a visual example see
this chart (each row is one sar apart).
5 See also
• List of Saros series for lunar eclipses
• Eclipse cycle
• Solar eclipse
• Lunar eclipse
• Metonic cycle
3
6 References
[1] van Gent, Robert Harry (8 September 2003). “A Cata-
logue of Eclipse Cycles”.
[2] Tablets 1414, 1415, 1416, 1417, 1419 of: T.G. Pinches,
J.N. Strassmaier: Late Babylonian Astronomical and Re-
lated Texts. A.J. Sachs (ed.), Brown University Press
1955
[3] A.J. Sachs & H. Hunger (1987..1996): Astronomical Di-
aries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Vol.I..III. Öster-
reichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. ibid. H.
Hunger (2001) Vol. V: Lunar and Planetary Texts
[4] P.J. Huber & S de Meis (2004): Babylonian Eclipse
Observations from 750 BC to 1 BC, par. 1.1.
IsIAO/Mimesis, Milano
[5] Naturalis Historia II.10[56]
[6] Almagest IV.2
[7] The Suda entry is online here.
[8] “saros”. Encarta Dictionary. Microsoft. Archived from
the original on Jun 8, 2009.
[9] Littmann, Mark; Fred Espenak; Ken Willcox (2008). To-
tality: Eclipses of the Sun. Oxford University Press. ISBN
0-19-953209-5.
in: Mathematical Astronomy Morsels III. Willmann-Bell,
Richmond VA, USA.
lennium Canon of Solar Eclipses, Section 4 (NASA TP-
2006-214141)" (PDF). NASA STI Program Office. Re-
trieved 2007-01-24.
Solar (and Lunar) Eclipses (2 vols.). H.D. Tjeenk Willink
& Zoon N.V., Haarlem.
[13] Bao-Lin Liu; Alan D. Fiala (1992). Canon of Lunar
Eclipses, 1500 B.C. to A.D. 3000. Willmann-Bell, Rich-
mond VA.
[14] Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110,
Chapter 18, The half-saros
• Jean Meeus and Hermann Mucke (1983) Canon of
Lunar Eclipses. Astronomisches Büro, Vienna
• Theodor von Oppolzer (1887). Canon der Finstern-
isse. Vienna
• Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus,
Willmann-Bell, Inc., 1997 (Chapter 9, p. 51, Ta-
ble 9. A Some eclipse Periodicities)
4 7 EXTERNAL LINKS

7 External links
• NASA - Eclipses and the Saros

• Solar and Lunar Eclipses - Xabier Jubier Interactive

eclipse search

• Eclipse Search – Search 5,000 years of eclipse data

by various attributes.
• Eclipses, Cosmic Clockwork of the Ancients - Fun-
damental astronomy of eclipses.
 5

8 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1 Text
• Saros (astronomy) Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saros_(astronomy)?oldid=682383517 Contributors: AxelBoldt, XJaM, Pierre-
Abbat, Michael Hardy, Llywrch, Seav, Ahoerstemeier, Stan Shebs, Cherkash, Tom Peters, Zoicon5, Shizhao, GPHemsley, JackofOz,
Mintleaf~enwiki, Curps, Rpyle731, Mboverload, Python eggs, RayTomes, Chowbok, Maximaximax, Tomruen, B.d.mills, Urhixidur, Rich
Farmbrough, Mani1, RJHall, Kwamikagami, Circeus, Timl, Firespeaker, Eric Kvaalen, Monado, SidP, Vynce, Ruud Koot, Dodiad, Ke-
lisi, Rjwilmsi, Maurog, FlaBot, Ian Pitchford, Who, Glenn L, Chobot, YurikBot, Dantheox, Gaius Cornelius, Berlin Stark, Mbase1235,
SmackBot, RDBury, Jagged 85, Man with two legs, Hmains, Saros136, Octahedron80, Wen D House, Mwtoews, Kendrick7, Col-
lect, Thatcher, PaulGS, Joseph Solis in Australia, Thijs!bot, Roger Pearse, Leon7, Yellowdesk, Deflective, Minimiscience, Archolman,
Lunokhod, Dzenanz, TXiKiBoT, Raymondwinn, BotKung, GlassFET, Glst2, SieBot, Astrologist, Martarius, WurmWoode, SockPuppet-
ForTomruen, Dthomsen8, Jmacwiki, GayanRS, Addbot, Ronhjones, Norman21, Legobot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, ArthurBot,
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