Solar eclipses occurring near the Moon's descending node are given even saros series numbers. The first eclipse of each series starts at the southern limb of the Earth and the eclipse's path is shifted northward with each successive saros, while solar eclipses occurring near the Moon's ascending node are given odd saros series numbers. The first eclipse of each series starts at the northern limb of the Earth and the eclipse's path is shifted southward with each successive saros.