eclipse n. 1.【天文学】蚀;(天体受到)遮蔽。 2.亮光的丧失,漆黑,晦暗;(名声等的)丧失,黯然无光。 an annular eclipse 环蚀。 a lunar eclipse 月蚀。 a partial eclipse 偏蚀。 a solar eclipse 日蚀。 a total eclipse 全蚀。 in eclipse 1. 变暗;失去光彩。 2. (鸟)失脱求爱美毛。 suffer an eclipse 黯然失色。 vt. 1.(天体)蚀;遮蔽(天体)的光。 2.使失色;超越,盖过。
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly behind the Earth into its umbra (shadow). This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned (in "syzygy") exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle.