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Besseliam Elements for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2015 Mar 20

Fred Espenak

The following table contains the Besseliam elements for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2015 Mar 20 .

The geographic coordinates of the eclipse path are listed in the Path Table . The global visibility of the eclipse is shown on an Orthographic Map . The features of this map are described in the Key to Solar Eclipse Path Tables. The path of the eclipse is displayed in greater detail on a Google Map .


            

Besselian Elements for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2015 Mar 20

Equatorial Conjunction: 10:18:14.1 TDT J.D. = 2457101.929330 (Sun & Moon in R.A.) (=10:17:06.5 UT) Ecliptic Conjunction: 09:37:18.2 TDT J.D. = 2457101.900905 (Sun & Moon in Ec. Lo.) (=09:36:10.6 UT) Instant of 09:46:46.8 TDT J.D. = 2457101.907486 Greatest Eclipse: (=09:45:39.2 UT) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gamma = 0.9454 Ephemerides = JPL DE405 Eclipse Magnitude = 1.0446 Lunation No. = 188 ΔT = 67.6 s Saros Series = 120 (61/71) Lunar Radius k1 = 0.272508 (Penumbra) Shift in Δb = 0.00" Constants: k2 = 0.272281 (Umbra) Lunar Position: Δl = 0.00" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geocentric Coordinates of Sun & Moon at Greatest Eclipse (JPL DE405): Sun: R.A. = 23h58m01.5s Moon: R.A. = 23h56m50.5s Dec. =-00°12'50.4" Dec. =+00°42'08.8" Semi-Diameter = 16'03.7" Semi-Diameter = 16'41.6" Eq.Hor.Par. = 08.8" Eq.Hor.Par. = 1°01'15.8" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Polynomial Besselian Elements for: 2015 Mar 20 10:00:00.0 TDT (=t0) n x y d l1 l2 μ 0 -0.168295 0.939052 -0.21267 0.535950 -0.010156 328.10678 1 0.5537398 0.1786475 0.016036 0.0000265 0.0000264 15.004414 2 0.0000058 -0.0000541 -0.000000 -0.0000130 -0.0000129 3 -0.0000094 -0.0000029 Tan ƒ1 = 0.0046950 Tan ƒ2 = 0.0046717 At time t1 (decimal hours), each Besselian element is evaluated by: a = a0 + a1*t + a2*t^2 + a3*t^3 (or a = Σ [an*t^n]; n = 0 to 3) where: a = x, y, d, l1, l2, or μ t = t1 - t0 (decimal hours) and t0 = 10.000 TDT The Besselian elements were derived from a least-squares fit to elements calculated at five uniformly spaced times over a six hour period centered at t0. The Besselian elements are valid over the period 7.00 ≤ t0 ≤ 13.00 TDT. Note that all times are expressed in Terrestrial Dynamical Time (TDT). Saros Series 120: Member 61 of 71 eclipses in series.

   Instant of 
Greatest Eclipse:       Time =  09:45:39.2 UT       Lat = 64°25.9'N      Long = 006°38.8'W
      (GE)               Sun Altitude =  18.5°          Path Width = 462.6 km
                          Sun Azimuth = 135.0°    Central Duration =   02m46.9s


   Instant of 
Greatest Duration:      Time =    09:45:17 UT       Lat =   64°17'N      Long =   006°54'W
      (GD)               Sun Altitude =  18.5°          Path Width = 463.3 km
                          Sun Azimuth = 134.6°    Central Duration =   02m46.9s


Additional Links: Total Solar Eclipse of 2015 Mar 20


Eclipse Predictions

Predictions for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2015 Mar 20 were generated using the JPL DE405 solar and lunar ephemerides and a value of ΔT = 67.6 seconds.

Acknowledgments

All eclipse calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment:

"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC"

For more information, see: NASA Copyright Information


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