eclipsable

Eclipsable refers to the characteristic of being capable of undergoing an eclipse. In astronomy, an object is eclipsable if it can be obscured by another celestial body. This obscuration typically occurs when one body passes directly between an observer and another, or when one body passes into the shadow cast by another.

The most common examples of eclipsable objects involve planets, moons, and stars. For instance, the Moon is eclipsable by the Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse, and the Sun is eclipsable by the Moon during a solar eclipse. Similarly, planets can eclipse stars, and moons can eclipse planets. The frequency and visibility of these eclipsable events depend on the orbital mechanics of the celestial bodies involved and the observer's location on Earth.

Beyond astronomical contexts, the term "eclipsable" can be used metaphorically to describe anything that can be overshadowed or rendered less prominent by something else. This could apply to people, ideas, or phenomena where a more dominant entity causes the other to be less noticeable or influential. However, the primary and most established use of the term is within the scientific study of celestial mechanics and observable astronomical events. Understanding what makes an object eclipsable is fundamental to predicting and studying these recurring cosmic occurrences.