An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The period during a → solar eclipse when the → Sun is completely blocked by the → Moon. Totality for a → lunar eclipse is the period when the Moon is in the complete → shadow of the → Earth. For a solar eclipse totality can last from only several fractions of a second to a theoretical maximum of 7m 31s, depending on the → distance from the Moon to the Earth. For a lunar eclipse totality can last up to 1h 47m, also depending on the distance from the Moon to the Earth and on its → passage through the shadow. See also → totality path.

See also: → total; → -ity.