total eclipse
Heavenly body's disappearance
A total eclipse occurs when one celestial body completely blocks another from view.
In a total solar eclipse, the moon passes between Earth and the sun, briefly turning day to night.
In a total lunar eclipse, Earth's shadow completely covers the moon.
The term extends figuratively to complete obscuring of anything: His scandal caused a total eclipse of his earlier achievements.
Complete shadow region
- penumbraRegion of partial illumination
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
- syzygyTrilinear celestial arrangement
- diamond ringGem-set engagement jewelry
chromosphere · photosphere · prominences · magnitude · occultation · transit · perigee · apogee
Light blocked by object
- blackoutComplete power loss
- obscurityState of being unknown
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- twilightLight after sunset
dimness · pitch-black · umbra · penumbra · shroud · nightfall · temperature drop · animal behavior
Act of watching something
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- skywatchingObserving the night sky
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
- binocularsHandheld dual-lens magnifier
photography · timelapse · crowd · gathering · pilgrimage · bucket list · once-in-a-lifetime · wonder
Prophetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- apocalypseTotal civilizational collapse
- mythologyBody of traditional tales
dragon · Amaterasu · rebirth · transformation · revelation · mystical · ancient · folklore
Happening only occasionally
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- scarceIn short supply
- exceptionalNotably above the norm
- extraordinaryBeyond what's typical
fleeting · momentary · brief · ephemeral · transient · precious · anticipation · countdown
umbra
Complete shadow region
- penumbraRegion of partial illumination
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
- syzygyTrilinear celestial arrangement
diamond ring · chromosphere · photosphere · prominences · magnitude · occultation · transit · perigee · apogee · lunar
shadow
Light blocked by object
twilight · dimness · pitch-black · umbra · penumbra · shroud · nightfall · temperature drop · animal behavior
viewing
Act of watching something
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- skywatchingObserving the night sky
- telescopeInstrument magnifying faraway objects
binoculars · photography · timelapse · crowd · gathering · pilgrimage · bucket list · once-in-a-lifetime · wonder · awe
omen
Prophetic indicator
- portentSign of future calamity
- prophecyForetelling of future events
- apocalypseTotal civilizational collapse
mythology · dragon · Amaterasu · rebirth · transformation · revelation · mystical · ancient · folklore · fear
infrequent
Happening only occasionally
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- scarceIn short supply
- exceptionalNotably above the norm
extraordinary · fleeting · momentary · brief · ephemeral · transient · precious · anticipation · countdown · prediction
- sunsol, solar, sunlight, sunspots, sunshine
- eclipsescorona, umbra, penumbra, solar corona, first contact
- moonfull moon, lunar, crescent moon, new moon, half moon
- celestial eventsmeteor shower, supernova, aurora borealis, equinox, comet
- sky phenomenathunderstorm, lightning, rainbow, sunset, sunrise
- 2017 EventsHurricane Harvey, Hurricane Maria, Me Too movement, fidget spinners, Nintendo Switch