From the publisher's website:

A game of Eclipse places you in control of a vast interstellar civilization, competing for success with its rivals. On each game round you expand your civilization by exploring and colonizing new areas, researching technologies and building spaceships to wage war with. The game ends after 9 rounds, and the player with most Victory Points wins. Victory Points are gained from controlling galactic sectors, fighting battles, forming diplomatic relations, researching technologies, making discoveries and controlling Monoliths. There are many potential paths to victory, so you need to plan your strategy according to the strengths and weaknesses of your species while paying attention to the other civilizations' endeavors!