Saros definition
The period of time, just under 19 years, between successive lunar or solar eclipses occurring when the sun, earth, and moon are in the same positions relative to one another.
noun
(astron.) The eclipse cycle of the sun and moon, recurring at intervals of 6,585.32 days (c. 18 years)
noun
(history, Babylon) A period of 3600 years.
noun
(astronomy) A period of 223 synodic months (approximately 18 years 11 days 8 hours), after which the relative positions of the earth, sun and moon recur, used to predict eclipses.
noun
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Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
saros
Plural:
saroi, sarosesOrigin of saros
- Medieval Greek from a misinterpretation of Greek saros Babylonian astronomical cycle of 3,600 years from Akkadian šār, šāru the number 3,600 from Sumerian šár
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- The modern astronomical usage is attributed to Edmond Halley, who erroneously interpreted the Babylonian word as a period of 18.5 years.
From Wiktionary
- From Ancient Greek, from Akkadian.
From Wiktionary