Solar eclipse

Solar eclipse
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the
Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth,
totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately every six
months, during the eclipse season in its new moon phase, when the
Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of Earth's orbit.[1] In a total
eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial
and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured. Unlike a lunar
eclipse, which may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of
Earth, a solar eclipse can only be viewed from a relatively small area of
the world. As such, although total solar eclipses occur somewhere on
Earth every 18 months on average, they recur at any given place only
once every 360 to 410 years.
If the Moon were in a perfectly circular orbit and in the same orbital
plane as Earth, there would be total solar eclipses once a month, at
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
every new moon. Instead, because the Moon's orbit is tilted at about 5
completely covers the Sun's disk. Solar
degrees to Earth's orbit, its shadow usually misses Earth. Solar (and
prominences can be seen along the limb (in
lunar) eclipses therefore happen only during eclipse seasons, resulting
red) as well as extensively the coronal and
in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses each year, no more than
partly the radiating coronal streamers. (August
two of which can be total.[2][3] Total eclipses are rarer because they
11, 1999)
require a more precise alignment between the centers of the Sun and
Moon, and because the Moon's apparent size in the sky is sometimes
too small to fully cover the Sun.
An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. In some ancient and modern

cultures, solar eclipses were attributed to supernatural causes or
regarded as bad omens. Astronomers' predictions of eclipses began in
China as early as the 4th century BC; eclipses hundreds of years into
the future may now be predicted with high accuracy.
Looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage, so

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques are used when
is too far away to completely cover the Sun's
viewing a solar eclipse. Only the total phase of a total solar eclipse is
disk (October 14, 2023).
safe to view without protection. Enthusiasts known as eclipse chasers
or umbraphiles travel to remote locations to see solar eclipses.[4][5]
Types
The Sun's distance from Earth is about 400 times the Moon's distance,
and the Sun's diameter is about 400 times the Moon's diameter.
Because these ratios are approximately the same, the Sun and the
Moon as seen from Earth appear to be approximately the same size:
about 0.5 degree of arc in angular measure.[6]
During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon blocks
The Moon's orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical, as is Earth's orbit
only part of the Sun's disk (October 25, 2022).
around the Sun. The apparent sizes of the Sun and Moon therefore
vary.[7] The magnitude of an eclipse is the ratio of the apparent size of
the Moon to the apparent size of the Sun during an eclipse. An eclipse that occurs
when the Moon is near its closest distance to Earth (i.e., near its perigee) can be a
total eclipse because the Moon will appear to be large enough to completely cover
the Sun's bright disk or photosphere; a total eclipse has a magnitude greater than
or equal to 1.000. Conversely, an eclipse that occurs when the Moon is near its
farthest distance from Earth (i.e., near its apogee) can be only an annular eclipse
because the Moon will appear to be slightly smaller than the Sun; the magnitude
Ten Minute Time Lapse Video of the
of an annular eclipse is less than 1.[8] Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024,
in Mazatlán, Mexico.
Because Earth's orbit around the Sun is also elliptical, Earth's distance from the
Sun similarly varies throughout the year. This affects the apparent size of the Sun
in the same way, but not as much as does the Moon's varying distance from
Earth.[6] When Earth approaches its farthest distance from the Sun in early July,
a total eclipse is somewhat more likely, whereas conditions favour an annular
eclipse when Earth approaches its closest distance to the Sun in early January.[9]
There are three main types of solar eclipses:[10]
Total eclipse
A total eclipse occurs on average every 18 months[11] when the dark silhouette of
the Moon completely obscures the bright light of the Sun, allowing the much
fainter solar corona to be visible. During an eclipse, totality occurs only along a Partial and annular phases of the
narrow track on the surface of Earth.[12] This narrow track is called the path of solar eclipse of May 20, 2012
totality.[13]
Annular eclipse
An annular eclipse, like a total eclipse, occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line with Earth. During an
annular eclipse, however, the apparent size of the Moon is not large enough to completely block out the Sun.[6]
Totality thus does not occur; the Sun instead appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the dark disk of
the Moon.[6] Annular eclipses occur once every one or two years, not annually.[11][14] Their name comes from the
Latin root word anulus, meaning "ring", rather than annus, for "year".[14]
Partial eclipse
A partial eclipse occurs about twice a year,[11] when the Sun and Moon are not exactly in line with Earth and the
Moon only partially obscures the Sun. This phenomenon can usually be seen from a large part of Earth outside of the
track of an annular or total eclipse. However, some eclipses can be seen only as a partial eclipse, because the umbra
passes above Earth's polar regions and never intersects Earth's surface.[6] Partial eclipses are virtually unnoticeable
in terms of the Sun's brightness, as it takes well over 90% coverage to notice any darkening at all. Even at 99%, it
would be no darker than civil twilight.[15]
Terminology
Hybrid eclipse
A hybrid eclipse (also called annular/total eclipse) shifts between a total and annular eclipse. At certain points on the
surface of Earth, it appears as a total eclipse, whereas at other points it appears as annular. Hybrid eclipses are
comparatively rare.[6]
A hybrid eclipse occurs when the magnitude of an eclipse changes during the
event from less to greater than one, so the eclipse appears to be total at locations
nearer the midpoint, and annular at other locations nearer the beginning and
end, since the sides of Earth are slightly further away from the Moon. These
eclipses are extremely narrow in their path width and relatively short in their
duration at any point compared with fully total eclipses; the 2023 April 20 hybrid
eclipse's totality is over a minute in duration at various points along the path of
totality. Like a focal point, the width and duration of totality and annularity are
near zero at the points where the changes between the two occur.[16]
Central eclipse Comparison of minimum and

Central eclipse is often used as a generic term for a total, annular, or hybrid maximum apparent sizes of the Sun
eclipse.[17] This is, however, not completely correct: the definition of a central and Moon (and planets). An annular
eclipse can occur when the Sun has
eclipse is an eclipse during which the central line of the umbra touches Earth's
a larger apparent size than the
surface. It is possible, though extremely rare, that part of the umbra intersects
Moon, whereas a total eclipse can
with Earth (thus creating an annular or total eclipse), but not its central line. This occur when the Moon has a larger
is then called a non-central total or annular eclipse.[17] Gamma is a measure of apparent size.
how centrally the shadow strikes. The last (umbral yet) non-central solar eclipse
was on April 29, 2014. This was an annular
eclipse. The next non-central total solar eclipse
will be on April 9, 2043.[18]
Eclipse phases
The visual phases observed during a total
eclipse are called:[19]
First contact—when the Moon's limb (edge)

is exactly tangential to the Sun's limb.
Second contact—starting with Baily's Beads
(caused by light shining through valleys on
the Moon's surface) and the diamond ring
Each icon shows the view from the centre Diamond ring effect at third
effect. Almost the entire disk is covered.
of its black spot, representing the Moon contact—the end of totality—with
Totality—the Moon obscures the entire disk (not to scale) visible prominences (August 21,
of the Sun and only the solar corona is
2017)
visible.
Third contact—when the first bright light
becomes visible and the Moon's shadow is
moving away from the observer. Again a diamond ring may be observed.
Fourth contact—when the trailing edge of the Moon ceases to overlap with the solar disk and the eclipse ends.
Predictions
Geometry
The diagrams to the right show the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during a solar eclipse. The dark gray
region between the Moon and Earth is the umbra, where the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon. The small area
where the umbra touches Earth's surface is where a total eclipse can be seen. The larger light gray area is the
penumbra, in which a partial eclipse can be seen. An observer in the antumbra, the area of shadow beyond the
umbra, will see an annular eclipse.[20]
The Moon's orbit around Earth is inclined at an angle of just over 5
degrees to the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic).
Because of this, at the time of a new moon, the Moon will usually pass
to the north or south of the Sun. A solar eclipse can occur only when a
new moon occurs close to one of the points (known as nodes) where
the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic.[21]
As noted above, the Moon's orbit is also elliptical. The Moon's

distance from Earth varies by up to about 5.9% from its average value.
Therefore, the Moon's apparent size varies with its distance from
Earth, and it is this effect that leads to the difference between total
and annular eclipses. The distance of Earth from the Sun also varies
during the year, but this is a smaller effect (by up to about 0.85% from
its average value). On average, the Moon appears to be slightly (2.1%)
smaller than the Sun as seen from Earth, so the majority (about 60%)
of central eclipses are annular. It is only when the Moon is closer to Geometry of a total solar eclipse (not to scale)
Earth than average (near its perigee) that a total eclipse occurs.[22][23]
Moon Sun
At perigee At apogee At perihelion At aphelion

(nearest) (farthest) (nearest) (farthest)
1737.10 km 696 000 km

Mean radius
(1079.38 mi) (432 000 mi)
363 104 km 405 696 km 147 098 070 km 152 097 700 km
Distance
(225 622 mi) (252 088 mi) (91 402 500 mi) (94 509 100 mi)
Angular 33' 30" 29' 26" 32' 42" 31' 36"

diameter[24] (0.5583°) (0.4905°) (0.5450°) (0.5267°)
Apparent size
to scale
Order by
decreasing 1st 4th 2nd 3rd
apparent size
The Moon orbits Earth in approximately 27.3 days, relative to a fixed frame of reference. This is known as the
sidereal month. However, during one sidereal month, Earth has revolved part way around the Sun, making the
average time between one new moon and the next longer than the sidereal month: it is approximately 29.5 days. This
is known as the synodic month and corresponds to what is commonly called the lunar month.[21]
The Moon crosses from south to north of the ecliptic at its ascending node, and vice versa at its descending node.[21]
However, the nodes of the Moon's orbit are gradually moving in a retrograde motion, due to the action of the Sun's
gravity on the Moon's motion, and they make a complete circuit every 18.6 years. This regression means that the
time between each passage of the Moon through the ascending node is slightly shorter than the sidereal month. This
period is called the nodical or draconic month.[25]
Finally, the Moon's perigee is moving forwards or precessing in its orbit and makes a complete circuit in 8.85 years.
The time between one perigee and the next is slightly longer than the sidereal month and known as the anomalistic
month.[26]
The Moon's orbit intersects with the ecliptic at the two nodes that are 180 degrees apart. Therefore, the new moon
occurs close to the nodes at two periods of the year approximately six months (173.3 days) apart, known as eclipse
seasons, and there will always be at least one solar eclipse during these periods. Sometimes the new moon occurs
close enough to a node during two consecutive months to eclipse the Sun on both occasions in two partial eclipses.
This means that, in any given year, there will always be at least two solar eclipses, and there can be as many as
five.[27]
Eclipses can occur only when the Sun is within about 15 to 18 degrees of a node, (10 to 12 degrees for central
eclipses). This is referred to as an eclipse limit, and is given in ranges because the apparent sizes and speeds of the
Sun and Moon vary throughout the year. In the time it takes for the Moon to return to a node (draconic month), the
apparent position of the Sun has moved about 29 degrees, relative to the nodes.[2] Since the eclipse limit creates a
window of opportunity of up to 36 degrees (24 degrees for central eclipses), it is possible for partial eclipses (or rarely
a partial and a central eclipse) to occur in consecutive months.[28][29]
Path
During a central eclipse, the Moon's umbra (or antumbra, in the case of an
annular eclipse) moves rapidly from west to east across Earth. Earth is also
rotating from west to east, at about 28 km/min at the Equator, but as the Moon is
moving in the same direction as Earth's rotation at about 61 km/min, the umbra
almost always appears to move in a roughly west–east direction across a map of
Earth at the speed of the Moon's orbital velocity minus Earth's rotational
velocity.[31]
The width of the track of a central eclipse varies according to the relative
apparent diameters of the Sun and Moon. In the most favourable circumstances, Fraction of the Sun's disc covered, f,
when a total eclipse occurs very close to perigee, the track can be up to 267 km when the same-sized discs are
(166 mi) wide and the duration of totality may be over 7 minutes.[32] Outside of offset a fraction t of their
the central track, a partial eclipse is seen over a much larger area of Earth. diameter.[30]
Typically, the umbra is 100–160 km wide, while the penumbral diameter is in

excess of 6400 km.[33]
Besselian elements are used to predict whether an eclipse will be partial, annular,
or total (or annular/total), and what the eclipse circumstances will be at any
given location.[34]: Chapter 11
Calculations with Besselian elements can determine the exact shape of the
umbra's shadow on Earth's surface. But at what longitudes on Earth's surface the
shadow will fall, is a function of Earth's rotation, and on how much that rotation From space, the Moon's shadow
has slowed down over time. A number called ΔT is used in eclipse prediction to during the solar eclipse of March 9,
2016 appears as a dark spot moving
take this slowing into account. As Earth slows, ΔT increases. ΔT for dates in the
across Earth.
future can only be roughly estimated because Earth's rotation is slowing
irregularly. This means that, although it is possible to predict that there will be a
total eclipse on a certain date in the far future, it is not possible to predict in the far future exactly at what longitudes
that eclipse will be total. Historical records of eclipses allow estimates of past values of ΔT and so of Earth's rotation.
[34]: Equation 11.132
Duration
The following factors determine the duration of a total solar eclipse (in order of decreasing importance):[35][36]
1. The Moon being almost exactly at perigee (making its angular diameter as large as possible).
2. Earth being very near aphelion (furthest away from the Sun in its elliptical orbit, making its angular diameter
nearly as small as possible).
3. The midpoint of the eclipse being very close to Earth's equator, where the rotational velocity is greatest and is
closest to the speed of the lunar shadow moving over Earth's surface.
4. The vector of the eclipse path at the midpoint of the eclipse aligning with the vector of Earth's rotation (i.e. not
diagonal but due east).
5. The midpoint of the eclipse being near the subsolar point (the part of Earth closest to the Sun).
The longest eclipse that has been calculated thus far is the eclipse of July 16, 2186 (with a maximum duration of 7
minutes 29 seconds over northern Guyana).[35]
Occurrence and cycles

A total solar eclipse is a rare event, recurring somewhere on Earth every 18
months on average,[38] yet is estimated to recur at any given location only every
360–410 years on average.[39] The total eclipse lasts for only a maximum of a few
minutes at any location because the Moon's umbra moves eastward at over
1700 km/h (1100 mph; 470 m/s; 1500 ft/s).[40] Totality currently can never last
more than 7 min 32 s. This value changes over the millennia and is currently
decreasing. By the 8th millennium, the longest theoretically possible total eclipse As Earth revolves around the Sun,
approximate axial parallelism of the
will be less than 7 min 2 s.[35] The last time an eclipse longer than 7 minutes
Moon's orbital plane (tilted five
occurred was June 30, 1973 (7 min 3 sec). Observers aboard a Concorde degrees to Earth's orbital plane)
supersonic aircraft were able to stretch totality for this eclipse to about 74 results in the revolution of the lunar
minutes by flying along the path of the Moon's umbra.[41] The next total eclipse nodes relative to Earth. This causes
exceeding seven minutes in duration will not occur until June 25, 2150. The an eclipse season approximately
longest total solar eclipse during the 11 000 year period from 3000 BC to at least every six months, in which a solar
8000 AD will occur on July 16, 2186, when totality will last 7 min 29 s.[35][42] For eclipse can occur at the new moon
phase and a lunar eclipse can occur
comparison, the longest total eclipse of the 20th century at 7 min 8 s occurred on
at the full moon phase.
June 20, 1955, and there will be no total solar eclipses over 7 min in duration in
the 21st century.[43]
It is possible to predict other eclipses using eclipse cycles. The

saros is probably the best known and one of the most accurate. A
saros lasts 6585.3 days (a little over 18 years), which means that,
after this period, a practically identical eclipse will occur. The
most notable difference will be a westward shift of about 120° in
longitude (due to the 0.3 days) and a little in latitude (north-
south for odd-numbered cycles, the reverse for even-numbered
ones). A saros series always starts with a partial eclipse near one
of Earth's polar regions, then shifts over the globe through a
series of annular or total eclipses, and ends with a partial eclipse
at the opposite polar region. A saros series lasts 1226 to 1550
years and 69 to 87 eclipses, with about 40 to 60 of them being Total solar eclipse paths: 1001–2000, showing that
central.[44] total solar eclipses occur almost everywhere on Earth.
This image was merged from 50 separate images from
NASA.[37]
Frequency per year
Between two and five solar eclipses occur every year, with at least
one per eclipse season. Since the Gregorian calendar was instituted in 1582, years that have had five solar eclipses
were 1693, 1758, 1805, 1823, 1870, and 1935. The next occurrence will be 2206.[45] On average, there are about 240
solar eclipses each century.[46]
The five solar eclipses of 1935
January 5 February 3 June 30 July 30 December 25
Partial Partial Partial Partial Annular

(south) (north) (north) (south) (south)
Saros 111 Saros 149 Saros 116 Saros 154 Saros 121
Final totality
Total solar eclipses are seen on Earth because of a fortuitous combination of circumstances. Even on Earth, the
diversity of eclipses familiar to people today is a temporary (on a geological time scale) phenomenon. Hundreds of
millions of years in the past, the Moon was closer to Earth and therefore apparently larger, so every solar eclipse was
total or partial, and there were no annular eclipses. Due to tidal acceleration, the orbit of the Moon around Earth
becomes approximately 3.8 cm more distant each year. Millions of years in the future, the Moon will be too far away
to fully occlude the Sun, and no total eclipses will occur. In the same timeframe, the Sun may become brighter,
making it appear larger in size.[47] Estimates of the time when the Moon will be unable to occlude the entire Sun
when viewed from Earth range between 650 million[48] and 1.4 billion years in the future.[47]
Viewing
Looking directly at the photosphere of the Sun (the bright disk of the Sun itself),
even for just a few seconds, can cause permanent damage to the retina of the eye,
because of the intense visible and invisible radiation that the photosphere emits.
This damage can result in impairment of vision, up to and including blindness.
The retina has no sensitivity to pain, and the effects of retinal damage may not
appear for hours, so there is no warning that injury is occurring.[49][50]
2017 total solar eclipse viewed in
Under normal conditions, the Sun is so bright that it is difficult to stare at it
real time with audience reactions
directly. However, during an eclipse, with so much of the Sun covered, it is easier
and more tempting to stare at it. Looking at the Sun during an eclipse is as
dangerous as looking at it outside an eclipse, except during the brief period of totality, when the Sun's disk is
completely covered (totality occurs only during a total eclipse and only very briefly; it does not occur during a partial
or annular eclipse). Viewing the Sun's disk through any kind of optical aid (binoculars, a telescope, or even an optical
camera viewfinder) is extremely hazardous and can cause irreversible eye damage within a fraction of a
second.[51][52]
Partial and annular eclipses

Viewing the Sun during partial and annular eclipses (and during total eclipses outside the brief period of totality)
requires special eye protection, or indirect viewing methods if eye damage is to be avoided. The Sun's disk can be
viewed using appropriate filtration to block the harmful part of the Sun's radiation. Sunglasses do not make viewing
the Sun safe. Only properly designed and certified solar filters should be used for direct viewing of the Sun's disk.[53]
Especially, self-made filters using common objects such as a floppy disk removed from its case, a Compact Disc, a
black colour slide film, smoked glass, etc. must be avoided.[54][55]
The safest way to view the Sun's disk is by indirect
projection.[56] This can be done by projecting an image
of the disk onto a white piece of paper or card using a
pair of binoculars (with one of the lenses covered), a
telescope, or another piece of cardboard with a small
hole in it (about 1 mm diameter), often called a
pinhole camera. The projected image of the Sun can
then be safely viewed; this technique can be used to Eclipse glasses filter out eye Pinhole projection method of
observe sunspots, as well as eclipses. Care must be damaging radiation, allowing observing partial solar eclipse.
direct viewing of the Sun Insert (upper left): partially eclipsed
taken, however, to ensure that no one looks through
[57] during all partial eclipse Sun photographed with a white solar
the projector (telescope, pinhole, etc.) directly. A
phases; they are not used filter. Main image: projections of the
kitchen colander with small holes can also be used to during totality, when the Sun partially eclipsed Sun (bottom right)
project multiple images of the partially eclipsed Sun is completely eclipsed
onto the ground or a viewing screen. Viewing the Sun's
disk on a video display screen (provided by a video
camera or digital camera) is safe, although the camera itself may be damaged by direct exposure to the Sun. The
optical viewfinders provided with some video and digital cameras are not safe. Securely mounting #14 welder's glass
in front of the lens and viewfinder protects the equipment and makes viewing possible.[55] Professional
workmanship is essential because of the dire consequences any gaps or detaching mountings will have. In the partial
eclipse path, one will not be able to see the corona or nearly complete darkening of the sky. However, depending on
how much of the Sun's disk is obscured, some darkening may be noticeable. If three-quarters or more of the Sun is
obscured, then an effect can be observed by which the daylight appears to be dim, as if the sky were overcast, yet
objects still cast sharp shadows.[58]
Totality
When the shrinking visible part of the photosphere becomes Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017
very small, Baily's beads will occur. These are caused by the
sunlight still being able to reach Earth through lunar valleys.
Totality then begins with the diamond ring effect, the last
bright flash of sunlight.[59]
It is safe to observe the total phase of a solar eclipse directly

only when the Sun's photosphere is completely covered by the
Moon, and not before or after totality.[56] During this period,
the Sun is too dim to be seen through filters. The Sun's faint
corona will be visible, and the chromosphere, solar Baily's beads, sunlight Composite image with corona,
prominences, coronal streamers and possibly even a solar flare visible through lunar prominences, and diamond
valleys ring effect
may be seen. At the end of totality, the same effects will occur
in reverse order, and on the opposite side of the Moon.[59]
Eclipse chasing
A dedicated group of eclipse chasers have pursued the observation of solar eclipses when they occur around
Earth.[60] A person who chases eclipses is known as an umbraphile, meaning shadow lover.[61] Umbraphiles travel
for eclipses and use various tools to help view the sun including solar viewing glasses, also known as eclipse glasses,
as well as telescopes.[62][63]
Photography
The first known photograph of a solar eclipse was taken on July 28, 1851, by Johann Julius Friedrich Berkowski,
using the daguerreotype process.[64][65]
Photographing an eclipse is possible with fairly common camera
equipment. In order for the disk of the Sun/Moon to be easily visible, a
fairly high magnification long focus lens is needed (at least 200 mm for a
35 mm camera), and for the disk to fill most of the frame, a longer lens is
needed (over 500 mm). As with viewing the Sun directly, looking at it
through the optical viewfinder of a camera can produce damage to the
retina, so care is recommended.[66] Solar filters are required for digital
photography even if an optical viewfinder is not used. Using a camera's
live view feature or an electronic viewfinder is safe for the human eye, but The progression of a solar eclipse on August
the Sun's rays could potentially irreparably damage digital image sensors 1, 2008 in Novosibirsk, Russia. All times
UTC (local time was UTC+7). The time span
unless the lens is covered by a properly designed solar filter.[67]
between shots is three minutes.
Historical eclipses
Historical eclipses are a very valuable resource for
historians, in that they allow a few historical events to
be dated precisely, from which other dates and ancient
calendars may be deduced.[68] The oldest recorded
solar eclipse was recorded on a clay tablet found at
Ugarit, in modern Syria, with two plausible dates
usually cited: 3 May 1375 BC or 5 March 1223 BC, the Pinholes in shadows during no
eclipse (1 & 4), a partial eclipse
latter being favored by most recent authors on the
(2 & 5) and an annular eclipse (3
topic.[69][70] A solar eclipse of June 15, 763 BC & 6)
mentioned in an Assyrian text is important for the
chronology of the ancient Near East.[71] There have
been other claims to date earlier eclipses. The
legendary Chinese king Zhong Kang supposedly Pinhole shadows during the
beheaded two astronomers, Hsi and Ho, who failed to Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024, as
predict an eclipse 4000 years ago. [72] Perhaps the seen from Winder, Georgia.
earliest still-unproven claim is that of archaeologist

Bruce Masse, who putatively links an eclipse that
occurred on May 10, 2807, BC with a possible meteor impact in the Indian Ocean on
the basis of several ancient flood myths that mention a total solar eclipse.[73]
Eclipses have been interpreted as omens, or

portents.[74] The ancient Greek historian Herodotus
wrote that Thales of Miletus predicted an eclipse that
occurred during a battle between the Medes and the
Lydians. Both sides put down their weapons and
declared peace as a result of the eclipse.[75] The exact
eclipse involved remains uncertain, although the issue
has been studied by hundreds of ancient and modern
authorities. One likely candidate took place on May 28,
585 BC, probably near the Halys river in Asia Minor.[76] Astronomers Studying an
An eclipse recorded by Herodotus before Xerxes Eclipse, Antoine Caron, 1571
departed for his expedition against Greece, [77] which is
traditionally dated to 480 BC, was matched by John
Records of the solar
Russell Hind to an annular eclipse of the Sun at Sardis on February 17, 478 BC.[78]
eclipses of 993 and 1004 as
well as the lunar eclipses of
Alternatively, a partial eclipse was visible from Persia on October 2, 480 BC.[79]
1001 and 1002 by Ibn Herodotus also reports a solar eclipse at Sparta during the Second Persian invasion of
Yunus of Cairo (c. 1005). Greece.[80] The date of the eclipse (August 1, 477 BC) does not match exactly the
conventional dates for the invasion accepted by historians.[81]
In ancient China, where solar eclipses were known as an "eating of the Sun" (rìshí 日食 ), the earliest records of
eclipses date to around 720 BC.[82] The 4th century BC astronomer Shi Shen described the prediction of eclipses by
using the relative positions of the Moon and Sun.[83]
Attempts have been made to establish the exact date of Good Friday by assuming that the darkness described at
Jesus's crucifixion was a solar eclipse. This research has not yielded conclusive results,[84][85] and Good Friday is
recorded as being at Passover, which is held at the time of a full moon. Further, the darkness lasted from the sixth
hour to the ninth, or three hours, which is much, much longer than the eight-minute upper limit for any solar
eclipse's totality. Contemporary chronicles wrote about an eclipse at the beginning of May 664 that coincided with
the beginning of the plague of 664 in the British isles.[86] In the Western hemisphere, there are few reliable records
of eclipses before AD 800, until the advent of Arab and monastic observations in the early medieval period.[82]
A solar eclipse took place on January 27, 632 over Arabia during Muhammad's lifetime. Muhammad denied the
eclipse had anything to do with his son dying earlier that day, saying "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because
of the death of someone from the people but they are two signs amongst the signs of God."[87] The Cairo astronomer
Ibn Yunus wrote that the calculation of eclipses was one of the many things that connect astronomy with the Islamic
law, because it allowed knowing when a special prayer can be made.[88] The first recorded observation of the corona
was made in Constantinople in AD 968.[79][82]
The first known telescopic observation of a total solar eclipse was made in France
in 1706.[82] Nine years later, English astronomer Edmund Halley accurately
predicted and observed the solar eclipse of May 3, 1715.[79][82] By the mid-19th
century, scientific understanding of the Sun was improving through observations
of the Sun's corona during solar eclipses. The corona was identified as part of the
Sun's atmosphere in 1842, and the first photograph (or daguerreotype) of a total
eclipse was taken of the solar eclipse of July 28, 1851.[79] Spectroscope
observations were made of the solar eclipse of August 18, 1868, which helped to
determine the chemical composition of the Sun.[79]
Erhard Weigel, predicted course of
Moon shadow on 12 August 1654
John Fiske summed up myths about the solar eclipse like this in his 1872 book
(O.S. 2 August)
Myth and Myth-Makers,
the myth of Hercules and Cacus, the fundamental idea is the victory of the solar god over the robber who
steals the light. Now whether the robber carries off the light in the evening when Indra has gone to sleep, or
boldly rears his black form against the sky during the daytime, causing darkness to spread over the earth,
would make little difference to the framers of the myth. To a chicken a solar eclipse is the same thing as
nightfall, and he goes to roost accordingly. Why, then, should the primitive thinker have made a distinction
between the darkening of the sky caused by black clouds and that caused by the rotation of the earth? He
had no more conception of the scientific explanation of these phenomena than the chicken has of the
scientific explanation of an eclipse. For him it was enough to know that the solar radiance was stolen, in the
one case as in the other, and to suspect that the same demon was to blame for both robberies.[89]
Particular observations, phenomena and impact

A total solar eclipse provides a rare opportunity to observe the corona (the outer layer of the Sun's atmosphere).
Normally this is not visible because the photosphere is much brighter than the corona. According to the point
reached in the solar cycle, the corona may appear small and symmetric, or large and fuzzy. It is very hard to predict
this in advance.[90]
Phenomena associated with eclipses include shadow bands (also known as flying shadows), which are similar to
shadows on the bottom of a swimming pool. They occur only just prior to and after totality, when a narrow solar
crescent acts as an anisotropic light source.[91] As the light filters through leaves of trees during a partial eclipse, the
overlapping leaves create natural pinholes, displaying mini eclipses on the
ground.[92]
1919 observations
The observation of a total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, helped to confirm
Einstein's theory of general relativity. By comparing the apparent distance
Simulated solar eclipse with a still
between stars in the constellation Taurus, with and without the Sun between
illuminated and refracting horizon,
them, Arthur Eddington stated that the theoretical predictions about as well as the coronal streamers,
gravitational lenses were confirmed.[93] The observation with the Sun between
the stars was possible only during totality since the stars are then visible. Though
Eddington's observations were near the experimental limits of accuracy at the time,
work in the later half of the 20th century confirmed his results.[94][95]
Gravity anomalies
There is a long history of observations of gravity-related phenomena during solar
eclipses, especially during the period of totality. In 1954, and again in 1959, Maurice
Allais reported observations of strange and unexplained movement during solar
eclipses.[96] The reality of this phenomenon, named the Allais effect, has remained
controversial. Similarly, in 1970, Saxl and Allen observed the sudden change in motion Eddington's original
of a torsion pendulum; this phenomenon is called the Saxl effect.[97] photograph of the 1919
eclipse, which provided
Observation during the 1997 solar eclipse by Wang et al. suggested a possible evidence for Einstein's
theory of general relativity.
gravitational shielding effect,[98] which generated debate. In 2002, Wang and a
collaborator published detailed data analysis, which suggested that the phenomenon still
remains unexplained.[99]
Eclipses and transits

In principle, the simultaneous occurrence of a solar eclipse and a transit of a planet is possible. But these events are
extremely rare because of their short durations. The next anticipated simultaneous occurrence of a solar eclipse and
a transit of Mercury will be on July 5, 6757, and a solar eclipse and a transit of Venus is expected on April 5,
15 232.[100]
More common, but still infrequent, is a conjunction of a planet (especially, but not only, Mercury or Venus) at the
time of a total solar eclipse, in which event the planet will be visible very near the eclipsed Sun, when without the
eclipse it would have been lost in the Sun's glare. At one time, some scientists hypothesized that there may be a
planet (often given the name Vulcan) even closer to the Sun than Mercury; the only way to confirm its existence
would have been to observe it in transit or during a total solar eclipse. No such planet was ever found, and general
relativity has since explained the observations that led astronomers to suggest that Vulcan might exist.[101]
Artificial satellites
Artificial satellites can also pass in front of the Sun as seen from Earth, but none is large enough to cause an eclipse.
At the altitude of the International Space Station, for example, an object would need to be about 3.35 km (2.08 mi)
across to blot the Sun out entirely. These transits are difficult to watch because the zone of visibility is very small. The
satellite passes over the face of the Sun in about a second, typically. As with a transit of a planet, it will not get
dark.[102]
Observations of eclipses from spacecraft or artificial satellites orbiting above
Earth's atmosphere are not subject to weather conditions. The crew of Gemini 12
observed a total solar eclipse from space in 1966.[103] The partial phase of the
1999 total eclipse was visible from Mir.[104]
Impact
The solar eclipse of March 20, 2015, was the first occurrence of an eclipse
The Moon's shadow over Turkey
estimated to potentially have a significant impact on the power system, with the
and Cyprus, seen from the ISS
electricity sector taking measures to mitigate any impact. The continental Europe during a 2006 total solar eclipse.
and Great Britain synchronous areas were estimated to have about 90 gigawatts
of solar power and it was estimated that production would temporarily decrease
by up to 34 GW compared to a clear sky day.[105][106]
Eclipses may cause the temperature to decrease by 3 °C (5 °F), with wind power
potentially decreasing as winds are reduced by 0.7 meters (2.3 ft) per second.[107]
In addition to the drop in light level and air temperature, animals change their
behavior during totality. For example, birds and squirrels return to their nests
and crickets chirp.[108]
Recent and forthcoming solar eclipses

Eclipses occur only in the eclipse season, when the Sun is close to either the A composite image showing the ISS
ascending or descending node of the Moon. Each eclipse is separated by one, five transit of the Sun while the 2017
or six lunations (synodic months), and the midpoint of each season is separated solar eclipse was in progress
by 173.3 days, which is the mean time for the Sun to travel from one node to the
next. The period is a little less than half a calendar year
because the lunar nodes slowly regress. Because 223 synodic
months is roughly equal to 239 anomalistic months and 242
draconic months, eclipses with similar geometry recur 223
synodic months (about 6,585.3 days) apart. This period (18
years 11.3 days) is a saros. Because 223 synodic months is not
identical to 239 anomalistic months or 242 draconic months,
saros cycles do not endlessly repeat. Each cycle begins with the
Moon's shadow crossing Earth near the north or south pole,
and subsequent events progress toward the other pole until the
Moon's shadow misses Earth and the series ends.[28] Saros
cycles are numbered; currently, cycles 117 to 156 are active.
Eclipse path for total and hybrid eclipses from 2021 to

1997–2000 2040
This eclipse is a member of a semester series. An eclipse in a
semester series of solar eclipses repeats approximately every
177 days and 4 hours (a semester) at alternating nodes of the Moon's orbit.[109]
Solar eclipse series sets from 1997 to 2000 [hide]
Descending node Ascending node
Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma
120 1997 March 09 0.91830 125 1997 September 02 −1.03521
Chita, Russia
Total Partial (south)

130 1998 February 26 0.23909 135 1998 August 22 −0.26441
Total eclipse near

Guadeloupe Total Annular
140 1999 February 16 −0.47260 145 1999 August 11 0.50623
Annular Totality from France Total
150 2000 February 05 −1.22325 155 2000 July 31 1.21664
Partial (south) Partial (north)
Partial solar eclipses on July 1, 2000 and December 25, 2000 occur in the next lunar year eclipse set.
2000–2003
This eclipse is a member of a semester series. An eclipse in a semester series of solar eclipses repeats approximately
every 177 days and 4 hours (a semester) at alternating nodes of the Moon's orbit.[110]
Partial solar eclipses on February 5, 2000 and July 31, 2000 occur in the previous lunar year set.
Ascending node Descending node
117 2000 July 01 −1.28214 122 2000 December 25 1.13669

127 2001 June 21 −0.57013 132 2001 December 14 0.40885
Partial from Minneapolis,

MN
Totality from Lusaka, Total Annular
Zambia
137 2002 June 10 0.19933 142 2002 December 04 −0.30204
Partial from Los Angeles, Totality from Woomera

CA
Annular Total
147 2003 May 31 0.99598 152 2003 November 23 −0.96381
Culloden, Scotland
Annular Total
2004–2007
119 2004 April 19 −1.13345 124 2004 October 14 1.03481

129 2005 April 08 −0.34733 134 2005 October 03 0.33058
Annular from Madrid,

Spain
Partial from Naiguatá Hybrid Annular
139 2006 March 29 0.38433 144 2006 September 22 −0.40624
Total from Side, Turkey

Partial from São Paulo,
Brazil
Total Annular
149 2007 March 19 1.07277 154 2007 September 11 −1.12552
From Jaipur, India Partial (north) From Córdoba, Argentina Partial (south)
2008–2011
121 2008 February 07 −0.95701 126 2008 August 01 0.83070
Novosibirsk, Russia
Partial from Annular Total
Christchurch, NZ
131 2009 January 26 −0.28197 136 2009 July 22 0.06977
Palangka Raya,
Indonesia
Annular Kurigram, Bangladesh Total
141 2010 January 15 0.40016 146 2010 July 11 −0.67877
Bangui, Central African Annular Hao, French Polynesia Total

Republic
151 2011 January 04 1.06265 156 2011 July 01 −1.49171
Partial from Vienna, Partial (north) Partial (south)

Austria
Partial solar eclipses on June 1, 2011, and November 25, 2011, occur on the next lunar year eclipse set.
2011–2014
This eclipse is a member of the 2011–2014 solar eclipse semester series. An eclipse in a semester series of solar
eclipses repeats approximately every 177 days and 4 hours (a semester) at alternating nodes of the Moon's
orbit.[113][Note 1]
118
2011 June 01 123 2011 November 25
1.21300 −1.05359
Partial from Tromsø,

Partial (north) Hinode XRT footage Partial (south)
Norway
128 2012 May 20 2012 November 13
133
0.48279 −0.37189
Cairns, Australia
Middlegate, Nevada Annular Total
138 143
2013 May 10 2013 November 03
−0.26937 0.32715
Churchills Head, Partial from Libreville,

Annular Hybrid
Australia Gabon
148
2014 April 29 153 2014 October 23
−0.99996 1.09078
Partial from Adelaide,

Annular (non-central) Partial from Minneapolis Partial (north)
Australia
2015–2018
120 2015 March 20 125

2015 September 13
0.94536 −1.10039
Solar Dynamics
Longyearbyen, Svalbard Total Observatory Partial (south)
130 2016 March 9 135 2016 September 1
0.26092 −0.33301
Balikpapan, Indonesia Total L'Étang-Salé, Réunion Annular
140
2017 February 26 145 2017 August 21
−0.45780 0.43671
Partial from Buenos

Annular Casper, Wyoming Total
Aires
155
2018 February 15 2018 August 11
150
−1.21163 1.14758
Partial from Olivos,

Buenos Aires
Partial from Huittinen,
Finland
Partial solar eclipses on July 13, 2018, and January 6, 2019, occur during the next semester series.
2018–2021
Note: Partial solar eclipses on February 15, 2018, and August 11, 2018, occurred during the previous semester series.
117
2018 July 13 2019 January 6
122
−1.35423 1.14174
Partial from Nakhodka,

Partial from Melbourne, Russia
Partial Partial
Australia
2019 July 2 2019 December 26
127 132
−0.64656 0.41351
La Serena, Chile Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Total Annular
2020 June 21 2020 December 14

137 142
0.12090 −0.29394
Beigang, Yunlin, Taiwan Gorbea, Chile
Annular Total
2021 June 10 2021 December 4

147 152
0.91516 −0.95261
Partial from Halifax, From HMS Protector off

Canada South Georgia
Annular Total
2022–2025
Solar eclipse series sets from 2022 to 2025 [show]

124
2022 April 30 2022 October 25
119
−1.19008 1.07014
Partial from CTIO, Chile Partial from Saratov,

Partial Partial
Russia
129 134
−0.39515 0.37534
Total from Annular from

Hybrid Annular
East Timor Campeche, Mexico
139
0.34314 144 −0.35087
Total from
Total Annular
Indianapolis, USA
2025 March 29 2025 September 21
149 1.04053 154 −1.06509
Partial Partial
2026–2029
121 −0.97427 126 0.89774
Annular Total
131 −0.29515 136 0.14209
Annular Total
2028 January 26 2028 July 22
141 0.39014 146 −0.60557
Annular Total
2029 January 14 2029 July 11
151 1.05532 156 −1.41908
Partial Partial
Partial solar eclipses on June 12, 2029, and December 5, 2029, occur in the next lunar year eclipse set.
See also
Lists of solar eclipses
List of films featuring eclipses
Apollo–Soyuz: First joint U.S.–Soviet space flight. Mission included an arranged eclipse of the Sun by the Apollo
module to allow instruments on the Soyuz to take photographs of the solar corona.
Eclipse chasing: Travel to eclipse locations for study and enjoyment
Occultation: Generic term for occlusion of an object by another object that passes between it and the observer,
thus revealing (for example) the presence of an exoplanet orbiting a distant star by eclipsing it as seen from
Earth
Eclipses in history and culture: treatment of solar and lunar eclipses by historical and contemporary society and
religion
Solar eclipses in fiction
Solar eclipses on the Moon: Eclipse of the Sun by planet Earth, as seen from the Moon
Lunar eclipse: Solar eclipse of the Moon, as seen from Earth; the shadow cast on the Moon by that eclipse
Transit of Venus: Passage of the planet Venus between the Sun and Earth, as seen from Earth. Technically a
partial eclipse.
Transit of Deimos from Mars: Passage of the Martian moon Deimos between the Sun and Mars, as seen from
Mars
Transit of Phobos from Mars: Passage of the Martian moon Phobos between the Sun and Mars, as seen from
Mars
Footnotes
1. The partial solar eclipses of January 4, 2011 and July 1, 2011 occurred in the previous semester series.
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External links
NASA Eclipse Web Site, with information on future eclipses and eye safety information (https://solarsystem.nasa.
gov/eclipses/home/)
NASA Eclipse Web Site (older version) (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html)
Eclipsewise (http://www.eclipsewise.com/eclipse.html), Fred Espenak's new eclipse site
Andrew Lowe's Eclipse Page (http://andrew-lowe.ca/eclipse_page.htm), with maps and circumstances for 5000
years of solar eclipses
A Guide to Eclipse Activities for Educators (https://www.fraknoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ECLIPSE-ACTI
VITIES-for-Educators.pdf), Explaining eclipses in educational settings
Detailed eclipse explanations and predictions (http://moonblink.info/Eclipse/), Hermit Eclipse
Eclipse Photography (http://www.zam.fme.vutbr.cz/~druck/Eclipse/), Prof. Miroslav Druckmüller
Animated maps of August 21, 2017 solar eclipses (https://web.archive.org/web/20160415224149/http://shadowa
ndsubstance.com/2017/2017e.html), Larry Koehn
Five Millennium (−1999 to +3000) Canon of Solar Eclipses Database (http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_ec
lipses/5MCSE/xSE_Five_Millennium_Canon.html), Xavier M. Jubier
Animated explanation of the mechanics of a solar eclipse (http://alienworlds.southwales.ac.uk/solarEclipse.html)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130525061317/http://alienworlds.southwales.ac.uk/solarEclipse.html)
2013-05-25 at the Wayback Machine, University of South Wales
Eclipse Image Gallery (http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/gallery.asp?Gallery=Eclipses&page=1) Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20161015033303/http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/gallery.asp?Gallery=Eclipses&pag
e=1) 2016-10-15 at the Wayback Machine, The World at Night
Ring of Fire Eclipse: 2012 (https://web.archive.org/web/20140422080638/http://www.photoparsi.com/5/556-ring-o
f-fire-eclipse), Photos
"Sun, Eclipses of the" (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Collier%27s_New_Encyclopedia_(1921)/Sun,_Eclipses_of_
the). Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
Centered and aligned video recording of Total Solar Eclipse 20th March 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=f0eFjqvvd14) on YouTube
Solar eclipse photographs taken from the Lick Observatory from the Lick Observatory Records Digital Archive,
UC Santa Cruz Library’s Digital Collections (http://digitalcollections.ucsc.edu/cdm/search/collection/p265101coll1
0/searchterm/Solar%20eclipses/mode/exact) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20200605233244/http://digita
lcollections.ucsc.edu/cdm/search/collection/p265101coll10/searchterm/Solar%20eclipses/mode/exact) 2020-06-
05 at the Wayback Machine
Video with Total Solar Eclipse March 09 2016 (from the beginning to the total phase) (https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=sr8ASPwrs58) on YouTube
Total Solar Eclipse Shadow on Earth March 09 2016 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i4PJWCNBaM)
CIMSSSatelite
List of all solar eclipses (https://www.solar-eclipse.info/en/eclipse/)
National Geographic Solar Eclipse 101 video (https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-videos/solar-eclips
e-101/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180804110250/https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/101-
videos/solar-eclipse-101) 2018-08-04 at the Wayback Machine
Wikiversity has a solar eclipse lab that students can do on any sunny day.
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Solar eclipse

An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. In some ancient and modern

Looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage, so

There are three main types of solar eclipses:[10]

Central eclipse Comparison of minimum and

First contact—when the Moon's limb (edge)

As noted above, the Moon's orbit is also elliptical. The Moon's

At perigee At apogee At perihelion At aphelion

1737.10 km 696 000 km

Angular 33' 30" 29' 26" 32' 42" 31' 36"

Typically, the umbra is 100–160 km wide, while the penumbral diameter is in

Occurrence and cycles

It is possible to predict other eclipses using eclipse cycles. The

Partial Partial Partial Partial Annular

Partial and annular eclipses

It is safe to observe the total phase of a solar eclipse directly

earliest still-unproven claim is that of archaeologist

Eclipses have been interpreted as omens, or

Particular observations, phenomena and impact

Eclipses and transits

Recent and forthcoming solar eclipses

Eclipse path for total and hybrid eclipses from 2021 to

Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma

120 1997 March 09 0.91830 125 1997 September 02 −1.03521

Total Partial (south)

Total eclipse near

140 1999 February 16 −0.47260 145 1999 August 11 0.50623

Annular Totality from France Total

150 2000 February 05 −1.22325 155 2000 July 31 1.21664

Partial (south) Partial (north)

Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma

117 2000 July 01 −1.28214 122 2000 December 25 1.13669

Partial (south) Partial (north)

Partial from Minneapolis,

137 2002 June 10 0.19933 142 2002 December 04 −0.30204

Partial from Los Angeles, Totality from Woomera

147 2003 May 31 0.99598 152 2003 November 23 −0.96381

Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma

119 2004 April 19 −1.13345 124 2004 October 14 1.03481

Partial (south) Partial (north)

Annular from Madrid,

139 2006 March 29 0.38433 144 2006 September 22 −0.40624

Total from Side, Turkey

149 2007 March 19 1.07277 154 2007 September 11 −1.12552

Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma

121 2008 February 07 −0.95701 126 2008 August 01 0.83070

Annular Kurigram, Bangladesh Total

141 2010 January 15 0.40016 146 2010 July 11 −0.67877

Bangui, Central African Annular Hao, French Polynesia Total

151 2011 January 04 1.06265 156 2011 July 01 −1.49171

Partial from Vienna, Partial (north) Partial (south)

Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma

Partial from Tromsø,

Churchills Head, Partial from Libreville,

Partial from Adelaide,

Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma

120 2015 March 20 125

Balikpapan, Indonesia Total L'Étang-Salé, Réunion Annular

Partial from Buenos

Partial from Olivos,

Saros Map Gamma Saros Map Gamma

Partial from Nakhodka,

La Serena, Chile Jaffna, Sri Lanka

2020 June 21 2020 December 14