Solar eclipse of October 21, 1930 explained

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit between Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22, 1930,[1] with a magnitude of 1.023. 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 2.6 days after perigee (on October 19, 1930, at 7:40 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

Totality was visible from Niuafoʻou in Tonga, Chile, and a tiny part of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Australia, Oceania, Antarctica, and southern South America.

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]

October 21, 1930 Solar Eclipse Times! Event! Time (UTC)
First Penumbral External Contact1930 October 21 at 19:04:22.4 UTC
First Umbral External Contact1930 October 21 at 20:05:03.7 UTC
First Central Line1930 October 21 at 20:05:17.8 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact1930 October 21 at 20:05:31.9 UTC
First Penumbral Internal Contact1930 October 21 at 21:17:17.4 UTC
Greatest Eclipse1930 October 21 at 21:43:53.4 UTC
Greatest Duration1930 October 21 at 21:44:03.4 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction1930 October 21 at 21:47:55.4 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction1930 October 21 at 22:04:15.8 UTC
Last Penumbral Internal Contact1930 October 21 at 22:10:00.4 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact1930 October 21 at 23:22:05.3 UTC
Last Central Line1930 October 21 at 23:22:17.0 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact1930 October 21 at 23:22:28.7 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact1930 October 22 at 00:23:21.5 UTC
October 21, 1930 Solar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Eclipse Magnitude1.02304
Eclipse Obscuration1.04660
Gamma−0.38038
Sun Right Ascension13h43m08.4s
Sun Declination-10°41'09.2"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'04.3"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension13h42m27.1s
Moon Declination-11°01'17.9"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'11.5"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°59'25.5"
ΔT24.0 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.

October 21
Descending node (new moon)
Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 116
Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 142

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1930

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Solar Saros 142

Inex

Triad

Inex series

Notes and References

  1. Web site: October 21–22, 1930 Total Solar Eclipse. timeanddate. 3 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 3 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Total Solar Eclipse of 1930 Oct 21. EclipseWise.com. 3 August 2024.