number, epact, and Dominical letter (q.v.).Eccentric. An eccentric orbit is one formed about a centre, which itself is revolving about
another centre. Ptolemy first employed the term as descriptive of the orbits of the planets
about the Sun, viewed from the Earth as the central point of observation. His supposition was
that the orbit was a circle, but that the Sun was not in the center of the orbit. In fact he
considered it to be an imaginary circle representing an imaginary orbit, since it had not been
discovered that the planets revolved round the Sun. The term is now applied to an elliptical
orbit. The eccentricity of an elliptical orbit is defined astronomically as its degree of
departure from a circle. It is expressed by the ratio of the major to the minor axis. The orbit of
Venus has the least, and that of Mercury the greatest eccentricity of the planets in the solar
system.Eclipse. This phenomenon is one that involves Sun, Moon and Earth. There are two distinct
types: (1) that in which the Moon stands between the Sun and Earth, cutting off from our vision
not only the light of the Sun, but the Sun itself. This is a Solar Eclipse, and occurs only at the
time of a new Moon, when the Sun and Moon form a conjunction near one of the Nodes at
which the orbits of the Earth and Moon intersect; and (2) that in which the Earth cuts off from
the Moon the light of the Sun, depriving it of its illumination but still leaving it in our line of
vision as a dark and shadowy object. This is a Lunar Eclipse, and occurs only at the time of a
Full Moon, when the Sun and Moon are in opposition, close to the Moon's nodes.
An Eclipse of the Sun comes from the West; of the Moon, from the East. An Eclipse can occur
between the Sun, the Earth and a planet, but that is of infrequent occurrence; also between the
Moon, the Earth and a planet, the Moon coming between the Earth and the planet. The Eclipse
of a planet by the Moon is called an occultation (q.v.).
The position of a Solar Eclipse coincides with that of the Sun on that day. The position of a
Lunar Eclipse coincides with the opposition point to the Sun's position on that day. Both Solar
and Lunar Eclipses can occur at either Node. (q.v.). The magnitude of an eclipse depends upon
(1) the relative distances of the luminaries from the Earth; and (2) their distance from the Nodes.
The duration of an eclipse depends on the relative rapidity of motion of the bodies.
The ancient rule was that the effects of a Solar eclipse last as long in years as the eclipse lasts in
hours; of a Lunar eclipse, a month for every hour. From a Figure cast for the moment of
commencement of the eclipse, events were deduced as affecting countries ruled by the ascending
Sign, based upon the strength of the planets in the Signs and Houses
Some modern authorities consider that the countries which lie within the eclipse shadow are
probably those in which the events signified by the eclipse will be felt. In the Nativity, the
eclipse is most powerful when it falls upon the birth position of a planet, luminary, or ascending
degree.
Contrary to ancient superstitions, eclipses are not uniformly evil. One man's loss is often
another's gain, and an eclipse in good aspect to a benefic under good directions can result