Solar eclipse of September 23, 2071 explained

A total solar eclipse will occur at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, September 23, 2071,[1] with a magnitude of 1.0333. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide. Occurring about 2.5 days before perigee (on September 21, 2071, at 5:10 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter will be larger.[2]

The path of totality will be visible from parts of northern Mexico, northern Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, far northern Brazil, Suriname, and French Guiana. A partial solar eclipse will also be visible for parts of Hawaii, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, northern and central South America, and West Africa.

Eclipse details

Shown below are two tables displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. The first table outlines times at which the moon's penumbra or umbra attains the specific parameter, and the second table describes various other parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[3]

September 23, 2071 Solar Eclipse Times! Event! Time (UTC)
First Penumbral External Contact2071 September 23 at 14:38:55.1 UTC
First Umbral External Contact2071 September 23 at 15:37:23.6 UTC
First Central Line2071 September 23 at 15:37:53.7 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact2071 September 23 at 15:38:23.8 UTC
First Penumbral Internal Contact2071 September 23 at 16:40:44.4 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction2071 September 23 at 17:11:32.7 UTC
Greatest Duration2071 September 23 at 17:18:47.4 UTC
Greatest Eclipse2071 September 23 at 17:20:28.0 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction2071 September 23 at 17:23:14.4 UTC
Last Penumbral Internal Contact2071 September 23 at 18:00:25.0 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact2071 September 23 at 19:02:41.8 UTC
Last Central Line2071 September 23 at 19:03:09.5 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact2071 September 23 at 19:03:37.1 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact2071 September 23 at 20:02:10.4 UTC
September 23, 2071 Solar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Eclipse Magnitude1.03329
Eclipse Obscuration1.06769
Gamma0.26200
Sun Right Ascension12h02m56.7s
Sun Declination-00°19'08.2"
Sun Semi-Diameter15'56.2"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension12h03m15.7s
Moon Declination-00°04'20.0"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'12.3"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°59'28.3"
ΔT98.8 s

Eclipse season

See also: Eclipse cycle. This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2071

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Solar Saros 145

Inex

Triad

Inex series

Notes and References

  1. Web site: September 23, 2071 Total Solar Eclipse. timeanddate. 21 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 21 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Total Solar Eclipse of 2071 Sep 23. EclipseWise.com. 21 August 2024.