What is the source data behind EclipseDB?

EclipseDB is computed from JPL's DE441 long-range planetary ephemeris (NASA/JPL Solar System Dynamics) accessed via the SPICE toolkit. Lunation seed times come from Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms Ch.54, and are then refined to greatest-eclipse accuracy using DE441. Geometric eclipse classification follows the standard Besselian-element method.

How accurate are dates before 1500 CE?

Before reliable telescopic timing (roughly pre-1500 CE), the limiting factor is Delta T, the difference between Terrestrial Dynamical Time and Universal Time. EclipseDB uses the Morrison and Stephenson 2004 Delta T model. Each eclipse stores a per-event uncertainty and a confidence tier (certain, regional, continental, speculative) so you can judge how usable a date is for archaeoastronomy. Geometric parameters that don't depend on Delta T (Saros series, magnitude, gamma) remain accurate even far in the past or future.

Why does EclipseDB cover 30,000 years when NASA covers about 5,000?

NASA's Five Millennium Canon by Espenak is the gold standard for the past five millennia. DE441's underlying integration is valid from roughly 13,000 BCE to 17,000 CE, so EclipseDB extends the catalogue to that full range. Useful when you want to know what was visible from a specific village in 1320 BCE, or what is coming in 13,000 CE.

What is gamma in an eclipse?

Gamma is the perpendicular distance from the Moon's shadow axis to Earth's centre, measured in Earth radii. Gamma = 0 means the shadow passes exactly through Earth's centre (deepest possible central eclipse). |Gamma| close to 1 means the shadow grazes Earth's edge. |Gamma| greater than 1 means the shadow misses Earth entirely. It is the single most useful one-number summary of an eclipse's geometry.

What is the Saros cycle?

A Saros series is a family of eclipses spaced 18 years 11 days 8 hours apart. Each Saros recurrence repeats the same Sun-Moon-Earth geometry to high precision, just shifted by about 120 degrees in longitude because Earth has rotated a third of a turn during the extra 8 hours. EclipseDB tags every event with its Saros number so you can trace a series across millennia.

Can I cite EclipseDB in a paper?

Yes. The eclipse-computation framework behind EclipseDB is published as an open paper on Zenodo at doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19066334. Cite that DOI plus the eclipsedb.org URL.

Is EclipseDB free to use?

Yes. Free, no signup, no advertising, no tracking. EclipseDB is a public research contribution by Anish Kumar PV, founder of RiSa Astronomy. There is no paywall and no plan to add one.

Does EclipseDB include Indian or Vedic astrology?

No. The Researcher / Archeo-Astronomy mode shows sidereal longitudes, nakshatra positions, rasi (zodiac sign), and ritu (Indian seasonal divisions), but these are astronomical bookkeeping, used for cross-referencing dates in inscriptions, palm-leaf manuscripts, and other historical Indian records. Same Sun and Moon, just expressed in the coordinate system the source text used. There are no predictive or astrological claims anywhere on the site.

What ayanamsha is used for sidereal display?

The catalogue stores the Lahiri ayanamsha as native, since it is the Indian government standard and most commonly cited in scholarship. The display in Researcher mode lets you switch between Lahiri, Raman, KP (Krishnamurti Paddhati), and Fagan-Bradley. Filtering on rasi or nakshatra always uses the Lahiri value for consistency, while column display reflects your chosen ayanamsha.

What is the difference between Total, Annular, Hybrid, and Partial eclipses?

For solar eclipses: Total - Moon fully covers the Sun's disc as seen from the umbral path. Annular - Moon is too far from Earth to cover the Sun completely; a ring of fire remains. Hybrid - the same eclipse appears Total along part of its path and Annular along the rest, due to Earth's curvature. Partial - observer is in the penumbra only. For lunar eclipses: Total - Moon fully enters Earth's umbra. Partial - only part enters. Penumbral - Moon only enters the lighter penumbra.

How do I report an error or contribute an inscription?

For data errors or methodology questions, email anish at eclipsedb dot org. For historical eclipse inscriptions you'd like cross-referenced against the catalogue, use the Inscriptions submission form at eclipsedb.org/inscriptions.

EclipseDB — 30,000-Year Eclipse Catalog

Model	Description	J2000 Value (approx)	Offset from Lahiri
Lahiri	Indian Government standard (Chitra Paksha). Default in EclipseDB.	23.86°	—
Raman	B.V. Raman system; epoch where the zodiacs coincided circa 397 CE.	22.47°	+1.39°
KP	Krishnamurti Paddhati; very close to Lahiri, used in stellar astrology.	23.84°	+0.02°
Fagan-Bradley	Western Sidereal standard; anchored to the star Spica at 29° Virginis.	24.75°	−0.89°

Model

Description

J2000 Value (approx)

Offset from Lahiri

Lahiri

Indian Government standard (Chitra Paksha). Default in EclipseDB.

23.86°

—

Raman

B.V. Raman system; epoch where the zodiacs coincided circa 397 CE.

22.47°

+1.39°

Krishnamurti Paddhati; very close to Lahiri, used in stellar astrology.

23.84°

+0.02°

Fagan-Bradley

Western Sidereal standard; anchored to the star Spica at 29° Virginis.

24.75°

−0.89°

Rasi (Sanskrit)	Constellation	Nakshatras Included
Mesha	Aries	Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika (¼)
Vrishabha	Taurus	Krittika (¾), Rohini, Mrigashira (½)
Mithuna	Gemini	Mrigashira (½), Ardra, Punarvasu (¾)
Karka	Cancer	Punarvasu (¼), Pushya, Ashlesha
Simha	Leo	Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni (¼)
Kanya	Virgo	Uttara Phalguni (¾), Hasta, Chitra (½)
Tula	Libra	Chitra (½), Swati, Vishakha (¾)
Vrishchika	Scorpio	Vishakha (¼), Anuradha, Jyeshtha
Dhanu	Sagittarius	Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha (¼)
Makara	Capricorn	Uttara Ashadha (¾), Shravana, Dhanishtha (½)
Kumbha	Aquarius	Dhanishtha (½), Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada (¾)
Meena	Pisces	Purva Bhadrapada (¼), Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati

Rasi (Sanskrit)

Constellation

Nakshatras Included

Mesha

Aries

Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika (¼)

Vrishabha

Taurus

Krittika (¾), Rohini, Mrigashira (½)

Mithuna

Gemini

Mrigashira (½), Ardra, Punarvasu (¾)

Karka

Cancer

Punarvasu (¼), Pushya, Ashlesha

Simha

Leo

Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni (¼)

Kanya

Virgo

Uttara Phalguni (¾), Hasta, Chitra (½)

Tula

Libra

Chitra (½), Swati, Vishakha (¾)

Vrishchika

Scorpio

Vishakha (¼), Anuradha, Jyeshtha

Dhanu

Sagittarius

Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha (¼)

Makara

Capricorn

Uttara Ashadha (¾), Shravana, Dhanishtha (½)

Kumbha

Aquarius

Dhanishtha (½), Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada (¾)

Meena

Pisces

Purva Bhadrapada (¼), Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati

EclipseDB — 30,000 Year Eclipse Catalog

📜 Researcher Filters

Add historical context on top of the standard filters — sidebar and table work as normal

What was eclipsed?

Not sure ☀ The Sun ☽ The Moon

How complete?

Any Total only Partial

Moon's nakshatra

Observation location ≤ 2000 yr range needed

Lat Lon

Totality filter 500 km

0 km: eclipses visible from this exact location (including partials) · Higher values extend the search zone outward

Period / Dynasty

Ritu / Indian Season

Any Vasanta (Spring) Grishma (Summer) Varsha (Monsoon) Sharad (Autumn) Hemanta (Pre-winter) Shishira (Winter)

From

—

Observer Location ≤ 2000 yr range needed

Lat Lon Radius 500 km

Showing — of — eclipses

ΔT Confidence Certain <60km Regional 60–1k km Continental 1–10k km Speculative >10k km 🟠 geo = ΔT-sensitive 🟢 orbital = ΔT-independent

1. Choosing Your Lens: Explorer vs. Archeo Mode

2. The Power of Filters

3. Understanding "Confidence Tiers"

4. Interactive Maps & Planet Data

The Tropical System (Seasonal)

The Sidereal System (Star-Based)

1. The Ayanamsha Models in EclipseDB

2. The Rasi & Nakshatra Table

3. How to Use This in Your Research

Safety First

Gear Checklist

Exposure Settings

Shot Sequence (Total Solar)

Smartphone Tips

Pro Tips