Eclipse Paths
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Solar Maps contains eclipse information for all the solar eclipses from the year 1801 to 2200. (Lunar eclipses are not included because they do not have paths on the Earth’s surface, as the same phase of lunar eclipse is visible from everywhere on the Earth’s surface simultaneously.) It is possible to view the paths of these solar eclipses over the Earth’s surface, as well as to see certain other details such as the zodiacal positions of the eclipses and their Saros Series numbers.
When the eclipse is a total eclipse, the path of totality can be plotted on any map. For all eclipses, paths of constant magnitude of eclipse can be plotted (for example, a line along which the maximum obscuration of the sun is 50% of its area, as seen from the Earth).
The eclipses in Solar Maps are divided into the following classification types.
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Partial - The path of totality is off the edge of the Earth’s surface. In this case, maximum obscuration occurs in polar regions. The amount of obscuration is usually referred to as the maximum percentage of the sun’s disk which is obscured. |
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Central Annular - The Moon is too small to obscure the whole sun, so a ring (annulus) remains around the Moon when it is in front of the sun. |
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Central Total - The Moon is large enough to obscure the whole sun. |
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Non-central Annular - An annular eclipse which grazes the edge of the Earth’s disk. |
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Non-central Total - A total eclipse which grazes the edge of the Earth’s disk. |
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Annular-Total - An eclipse which is annular for part of its path, and total for the rest. |
Also shown for each eclipse are the following items.
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The zodiacal longitude of the sun at the time of maximum eclipse |
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The hemisphere in which the eclipse falls |
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The lunation number (relative to the first lunation of the year 2000) |
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The Saros Series number (using van den Bergh’s numbering system) |
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