neareclipsed

Neareclipsed is a term used in astronomy to describe a geometric configuration in which two luminous bodies lie nearly along the same line of sight, so that one body nearly obscures the other without a full occultation. The concept emphasizes the appearance of an eclipse-like event when the alignment is close but not perfect. It is a coined term rather than an officially defined category in standard eclipse nomenclature.

Origin and usage: The word combines near with eclipsed and has appeared in speculative discussions and theoretical papers to describe near-miss alignments that resemble eclipses. It is not widely standardized and may be used variably by authors to convey approximate obscuration rather than a formal eclipse.

Geometrical characteristics: A neareclipsed arrangement occurs when the apparent angular separation between the bodies falls below a context-dependent threshold, often producing a shallow dip in brightness rather than a total or partial eclipse. The depth and duration of the dimming depend on the relative sizes, distances, and limb-darkening effects of the bodies involved.

Observational implications: Neareclipsed configurations can affect precision photometry, transit timing, and occultation studies by introducing small, asymmetric light-curve features. They can arise in star–star, planet–star, or planet–planet alignments and are of interest in simulations of eclipse dynamics and in the interpretation of ambiguous photometric signals.

See also: Eclipse, Partial eclipse, Transit, Occultation, Alignment geometry, Photometry.