The following tables contain brief explanations for the various contact times of the Moon’s umbral or antumbral shadow with Earth’s surface during an eclipse of the Sun.

Contacts of Umbral Shadow with Earth
Contact Event	Contact	Description
First External Contact	U1	Instant of first external tangency of the umbral or antumbral shadow cone with Earth’s surface (edge of umbral or antumbral shadow first falls on Earth - total or annular eclipse begins)
First Internal Contact	U2	Instant of first internal tangency of the umbral or antumbral shadow cone with Earth’s surface (entire umbral or antumbral shadow first falls on Earth)
Last Internal Contact	U3	Instant of last internal tangency of the umbral or antumbral shadow cone with Earth’s surface (entire umbral or antumbral shadow last falls on Earth)
Last External Contact	U4	Instant of last external tangency of the umbral or antumbral shadow cone with Earth’s surface (edge of umbral or antumbral shadow last falls on Earth - total or annular eclipse ends)

Extreme Northern and Southern Path Limits of Umbra
Contact Event	Contact	Description
North Extreme Path Limit 1	N1	Northern limit of the umbral or antumbral shadow at the start of the central path
South Extreme Path Limit 1	S1	Southern limit of the umbral or antumbral shadow at the start of the central path
North Extreme Path Limit 2	N2	Northern limit of the umbral or antumbral shadow at the end of the central path
South Extreme Path Limit 2	S2	Southern limit of the umbral or antumbral shadow at the end of the central path

Extreme Limits of the Central Line
Contact Event	Contact	Description
Extreme Central Line Limit 1	C1	Starting point of the central line on Earth's surface
Extreme Central Line Limit 2	C2	Ending point of the central line on Earth's surface