Eclipses: Reasons for occurence

The reasons for the Solar eclipse are the same as for lunar eclipse, i.e., the Sun rays should be stopped by the dark (non-luminous) Moon from falling on the Earth. It can happen only when the Moon comes in the line of the Sun and the Earth and in between them. The Moon moves eastwards with reference to the stars at an average speed of more than half a degree per hour. During its movement, it continually interposes its disc between Earth and the stars. The sudden disappearance of a star by the Moon's disc is called the Occultation of the star by the Moon. Actually the covering of one celestial body by another is, in general, called occultation. The Solar eclipse is also an occultation of the Sun by the Moon. The eclipses give advance information about the auspicious or inauspicious events,f,az which may take place in the life of a native or a nation during the period between one eclipse to another eclipse.

According to some well-learned astrologers, duration of eclipse (the hours and minutes are taken as months and days respectively) decides the period during which the effects of that particular eclipse are likely to take place.