Eclipses of the Sun can only occur during the New Moon phase. It is then possible for the Moon's penumbral, umbral or antumbral shadows to sweep across Earth's surface thereby producing an eclipse. Not all New Moons result in a solar eclipse because the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5 degrees to Earth's about the Sun. Consequently, the Moon's shadows miss Earth at most New Moon's. Nevertheless, there are 2 to 5 solar eclipses every calendar year. There are four types of solar eclipses: partial, annular, total and hybrid[1]. For more information, see Basic Solar Eclipse Geometry.
During the 10 Millennium period -3999 to 6000 ( 4000 BCE to 6000 CE[2]), Earth will experience 23740 solar eclipses. The following table shows the number of eclipses of each type over this period.
| Solar Eclipses: -3999 - 6000 | |||
| Eclipse Type | Symbol | Number | Percent |
| All Eclipses | - | 23740 | 100.0% |
| Partial | P | 8383 | 35.3% |
| Annular | A | 7881 | 33.2% |
| Total | T | 6326 | 26.6% |
| Hybrid | H | 1150 | 4.8% |
Annular and total eclipses can be further classified as either: 1) Central (two limits), 2) Central (one limit) or 3) Non-Central (one limit). The statistical distribution of these classes during the 60th century CE appears in the following three tables (no Hybrids are included since all are central with two limits).
| Annular and Total Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All | 14207 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 13851 | 97.5% |
| Central (one limit) | 180 | 1.3% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 176 | 1.2% |
| Annular Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Annular Eclipses | 7881 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 7621 | 96.7% |
| Central (one limit) | 131 | 1.7% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 129 | 1.6% |
| Total Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Total Eclipses | 6326 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 6230 | 98.5% |
| Central (one limit) | 49 | 0.8% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 47 | 0.7% |
The longest central[3] solar eclipses of this period are:
Longest Total Solar Eclipse: 2186 Jul 16 Duration = 07m29s
Longest Annular Solar Eclipse: 0150 Dec 07 Duration = 12m23s
Longest Hybrid Solar Eclipse: 5963 Aug 16 Duration = 01m52s
Long Annular Solar Eclipses are relatively rare. The following catalog lists concise details and local circumstances for all Annular Solar Eclipses with durations exceeding 11m 00s. The Key to Catalog of Solar Eclipses contains a detailed description and explanation of each item listed in the catalog. For eclipses from -1999 to +3000, the Catalog Number in the first column serves as a link to a global map of Earth showing the geographic visibility of each eclipse. The date and time of the eclipse are given at the instant of greatest eclipse[4] in Terrestrial Dynamical Time. The Saros Number in the sixth column links to a table listing all eclipses in the Saros series. The Key to Solar Eclipse Maps explains the features plotted on each map.
The data presented here are based in part on the Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000.
TD of
Catalog Calendar Greatest Luna Saros Ecl. Ecl. Sun Sun Path Central
Number Date Eclipse ΔT Num Num Type Gamma Mag. Lat. Long. Alt Azm Width Dur.
s ° ° ° ° km
----- -3478 Dec 08 15:42:55 86400 -67743 -33 A 0.6051 0.9188 18.6N 49.8W 53 190 385 11m02s
----- -3460 Dec 18 23:27:45 85992 -67520 -33 A 0.5913 0.9204 15.2N 169.7W 54 186 373 11m10s
----- -3442 Dec 30 07:04:48 85406 -67297 -33 A 0.5711 0.9227 12.1N 71.8E 55 182 356 11m04s
----- -3178 Oct 23 07:53:28 77052 -64034 -27 A 0.1400 0.9160 5.7N 25.0E 82 198 322 11m13s
----- -3160 Nov 02 15:53:53 76497 -63811 -27 A 0.1388 0.9155 1.1N 98.1W 82 197 324 11m26s
----- -3142 Nov 13 23:55:05 75944 -63588 -27 A 0.1385 0.9158 3.1S 138.8E 82 196 323 11m35s
----- -3124 Nov 24 07:52:34 75393 -63365 -27 A 0.1349 0.9167 7.2S 16.7E 82 193 319 11m36s
----- -3106 Dec 05 15:47:42 74844 -63142 -27 Am 0.1294 0.9184 10.8S 104.6W 83 190 312 11m29s
----- -3088 Dec 15 23:36:27 74296 -62919 -27 A 0.1181 0.9207 14.2S 136.0E 83 186 302 11m10s
----- -2036 Nov 25 07:56:41 45846 -49908 0 A 0.4438 0.9152 7.2N 100.0W 64 202 356 11m02s
----- -2018 Dec 06 15:55:26 45418 -49685 0 A 0.4490 0.9159 5.2N 137.6E 63 198 355 11m23s
----- -2000 Dec 16 23:49:28 44992 -49462 0 A 0.4578 0.9172 4.2N 16.5E 63 193 352 11m36s
00043 -1982 Dec 28 07:38:06 44567 -49239 0 A 0.4710 0.9191 4.2N 103.2W 62 189 346 11m38s
00086 -1963 Jan 07 15:19:18 44145 -49016 0 A 0.4901 0.9215 5.4N 138.8E 61 185 340 11m26s
00724 -1709 Nov 10 22:19:39 38395 -45864 25 A 0.6325 0.9133 25.1N 12.8E 51 195 423 11m10s
00768 -1691 Nov 21 06:20:30 38003 -45641 25 A 0.6297 0.9131 21.7N 111.1W 51 192 424 11m40s
00812 -1673 Dec 02 14:21:47 37613 -45418 25 A 0.6274 0.9135 18.9N 125.0E 51 188 423 12m00s
00852 -1655 Dec 12 22:17:54 37226 -45195 25 A 0.6207 0.9147 16.4N 2.5E 52 184 414 12m07s
00893 -1637 Dec 24 06:11:25 36840 -44972 25 A 0.6119 0.9165 14.4N 119.4W 52 179 401 11m58s
00934 -1618 Jan 03 13:57:11 36456 -44749 25 A 0.5961 0.9190 12.6N 120.9E 53 175 382 11m34s
01530 -1355 Oct 27 15:05:56 31072 -41486 31 A 0.1429 0.9180 1.0S 83.0E 82 196 314 11m10s
01572 -1337 Nov 07 23:04:53 30720 -41263 31 A 0.1379 0.9176 5.3S 38.8W 82 194 316 11m24s
01615 -1319 Nov 18 07:06:24 30370 -41040 31 A 0.1346 0.9178 9.1S 160.8W 82 191 315 11m29s
01659 -1301 Nov 29 15:08:25 30021 -40817 31 A 0.1315 0.9188 12.2S 77.2E 83 188 311 11m26s
01703 -1283 Dec 09 23:10:06 29675 -40594 31 A 0.1275 0.9205 14.7S 44.3W 83 184 303 11m11s
02897 -0780 Nov 28 23:34:55 20825 -34373 49 A 0.2693 0.9212 5.0S 87.1W 74 186 310 11m17s
02938 -0762 Dec 10 07:38:16 20536 -34150 49 A 0.2654 0.9206 7.1S 150.7E 75 182 312 11m29s
02980 -0744 Dec 20 15:38:37 20250 -33927 49 A 0.2595 0.9207 8.6S 29.4E 75 178 311 11m27s
03023 -0726 Dec 31 23:33:25 19966 -33704 49 A 0.2491 0.9215 9.5S 90.3W 76 173 306 11m10s
04216 -0231 Nov 19 09:31:09 12944 -27583 58 A 0.4864 0.9150 8.5N 98.3E 61 199 366 11m19s
04256 -0213 Nov 30 17:32:23 12736 -27360 58 A 0.4916 0.9148 7.0N 23.9W 61 195 370 11m47s
04297 -0195 Dec 11 01:33:19 12530 -27137 58 A 0.4971 0.9153 6.3N 146.0W 60 191 370 12m04s
04339 -0177 Dec 22 09:33:34 12326 -26914 58 A 0.5030 0.9165 6.4N 92.1E 60 186 367 12m08s
04383 -0158 Jan 01 17:29:28 12125 -26691 58 A 0.5128 0.9184 7.4N 28.9W 59 182 361 11m55s
04426 -0140 Jan 13 01:20:54 11926 -26468 58 A 0.5265 0.9208 9.6N 148.8W 58 178 352 11m26s
05013 0096 Nov 04 00:44:00 9489 -23539 83 A 0.5836 0.9159 19.8N 147.1W 54 193 392 11m18s
05058 0114 Nov 15 08:41:03 9313 -23316 83 A 0.5746 0.9149 16.3N 91.1E 55 189 395 11m53s
05102 0132 Nov 25 16:42:02 9139 -23093 83 A 0.5691 0.9144 13.6N 31.5W 55 185 396 12m16s
05146 0150 Dec 07 00:43:01 8965 -22870 83 A 0.5630 0.9147 11.6N 154.0W 56 181 393 12m23s
05188 0168 Dec 17 08:45:18 8792 -22647 83 A 0.5579 0.9156 10.3N 83.3E 56 176 387 12m14s
05228 0186 Dec 28 16:44:33 8620 -22424 83 A 0.5496 0.9173 9.6N 38.6W 57 172 375 11m49s
05269 0205 Jan 08 00:40:31 8449 -22201 83 A 0.5386 0.9196 9.4N 159.5W 57 167 359 11m09s
07183 1025 Nov 23 03:59:16 1459 -12048 107 A 0.1758 0.9211 11.5S 124.5E 80 184 303 11m14s
07225 1043 Dec 04 12:01:48 1370 -11825 107 A 0.1691 0.9196 13.4S 3.8E 80 179 309 11m28s
07269 1061 Dec 14 20:03:51 1280 -11602 107 A 0.1623 0.9187 14.3S 116.5W 81 175 312 11m29s
07313 1079 Dec 26 04:06:10 1190 -11379 107 A 0.1559 0.9185 14.4S 123.1E 81 170 313 11m18s
07713 1238 Dec 08 05:02:16 627 -9413 110 A 0.0988 0.9175 17.9S 107.1E 84 188 315 11m23s
07758 1256 Dec 18 13:04:38 576 -9190 110 A 0.1055 0.9172 17.5S 12.8W 84 184 317 11m39s
07802 1274 Dec 29 21:04:54 529 -8967 110 A 0.1138 0.9175 16.2S 132.3W 84 179 316 11m44s
07845 1293 Jan 09 05:03:32 482 -8744 110 A 0.1233 0.9185 13.9S 108.4E 83 175 312 11m36s
TD of
Catalog Calendar Greatest Luna Saros Ecl. Ecl. Sun Sun Path Central
Number Date Eclipse ΔT Num Num Type Gamma Mag. Lat. Long. Alt Azm Width Dur.
s ° ° ° ° km
07887 1311 Jan 20 12:57:37 445 -8521 110 A 0.1365 0.9200 10.6S 10.2W 82 171 306 11m18s
08483 1574 Nov 13 15:12:17 123 -5258 116 A 0.5970 0.9171 14.8N 40.0W 53 197 387 11m03s
08524 1592 Dec 03 23:07:16 113 -5035 116 A 0.6102 0.9159 14.5N 160.2W 52 193 401 11m36s
08564 1610 Dec 15 07:06:48 99 -4812 116 A 0.6195 0.9153 14.7N 78.2E 52 188 409 11m56s
08608 1628 Dec 25 15:08:47 84 -4589 116 A 0.6265 0.9153 15.4N 44.0W 51 184 413 12m02s
08653 1647 Jan 05 23:10:59 50 -4366 116 A 0.6336 0.9161 16.9N 166.5W 51 179 413 11m50s
08699 1665 Jan 16 07:11:51 31 -4143 116 A 0.6420 0.9174 19.1N 71.2E 50 175 409 11m24s
09284 1901 Nov 11 07:28:21 -0 -1214 141 A 0.4758 0.9216 10.8N 68.9E 62 190 336 11m01s
09327 1919 Nov 22 15:14:12 21 -991 141 A 0.4549 0.9198 6.9N 48.9W 63 186 341 11m37s
09370 1937 Dec 02 23:05:45 24 -768 141 A 0.4389 0.9184 4.0N 167.8W 64 182 344 12m00s
09411 1955 Dec 14 07:02:25 31 -545 141 A 0.4266 0.9176 2.1N 72.2E 65 178 346 12m09s
09451 1973 Dec 24 15:02:44 44 -322 141 A 0.4171 0.9174 1.1N 48.5W 65 174 345 12m02s
09490 1992 Jan 04 23:05:37 58 -99 141 A 0.4091 0.9179 1.0N 169.7W 66 169 340 11m41s
09529 2010 Jan 15 07:07:39 66 124 141 A 0.4002 0.9190 1.6N 69.3E 66 165 333 11m08s
----- 3043 Dec 23 13:45:49 4609 12912 168 A 0.2835 0.9201 6.9S 6.5W 74 185 316 11m35s
----- 3062 Jan 02 21:43:43 4746 13135 168 A 0.2965 0.9184 5.5S 125.5W 73 181 324 11m59s
----- 3080 Jan 14 05:43:42 4885 13358 168 A 0.3078 0.9174 3.4S 114.8E 72 176 330 12m09s
----- 3098 Jan 24 13:45:55 5027 13581 168 A 0.3172 0.9170 0.7S 5.6W 72 173 332 12m05s
----- 3116 Feb 05 21:46:51 5170 13804 168 A 0.3276 0.9173 2.7N 126.0W 71 169 332 11m48s
----- 3134 Feb 16 05:46:01 5316 14027 168 A 0.3394 0.9182 6.8N 113.9E 70 166 329 11m21s
----- 3407 Jan 01 22:17:56 7760 17402 193 A 0.7368 0.9155 24.1N 130.2W 42 170 473 11m13s
----- 3425 Jan 12 06:15:52 7938 17625 193 A 0.7234 0.9144 23.6N 108.8E 43 165 467 11m11s
----- 3742 Dec 10 09:47:39 11402 21557 199 A 0.2425 0.9238 8.7S 78.0E 76 179 296 11m03s
----- 3760 Dec 20 17:32:23 11617 21780 199 A 0.2178 0.9218 10.8S 37.1W 77 175 303 11m12s
----- 3779 Jan 01 01:23:21 11834 22003 199 A 0.1982 0.9204 11.6S 153.6W 79 170 307 11m10s
----- 4885 Jan 20 18:21:06 28992 35683 226 A 0.5845 0.9202 16.0N 23.0E 54 174 372 11m08s
----- 4903 Feb 02 02:18:24 29334 35906 226 A 0.6010 0.9181 19.6N 96.8W 53 170 387 11m05s
----- 5779 Jan 14 09:53:11 48380 46740 260 A 0.3917 0.9235 2.1N 127.4W 67 176 314 11m11s
----- 5797 Jan 24 17:38:43 48822 46963 260 A 0.4188 0.9214 5.9N 116.9E 65 173 327 11m18s
----- 5815 Feb 06 01:30:09 49266 47186 260 A 0.4412 0.9199 10.1N 0.4W 64 169 337 11m14s
----- 5833 Feb 16 09:26:13 49712 47409 260 A 0.4597 0.9189 14.5N 119.0W 63 166 345 11m01s
The Gregorian calendar is used for all dates from 1582 Oct 15 onwards. Before that date, the Julian calendar is used. For more information on this topic, see Calendar Dates. The Julian calendar does not include the year 0. Thus the year 1 BCE is followed by the year 1 CE (See: BCE/CE Dating Conventions ). This is awkward for arithmetic calculations. Years in this catalog are numbered astronomically and include the year 0. Historians should note there is a difference of one year between astronomical dates and BCE dates. Thus, the astronomical year 0 corresponds to 1 BCE, and astronomical year -1 corresponds to 2 BCE, etc..
The coordinates of the Sun used in these predictions are based on the VSOP87 theory [Bretagnon and Francou, 1988]. The Moon's coordinates are based on the ELP-2000/82 theory [Chapront-Touze and Chapront, 1983]. For more information, see: Solar and Lunar Ephemerides. The revised value used for the Moon's secular acceleration is n-dot = -25.858 arc-sec/cy*cy, as deduced from the Apollo lunar laser ranging experiment (Chapront, Chapront-Touze, and Francou, 2002).
The largest uncertainty in the eclipse predictions is caused by fluctuations in Earth's rotation due primarily to tidal friction of the Moon. The resultant drift in apparent clock time is expressed as ΔT and is determined as follows:
A series of polynomial expressions have been derived to simplify the evaluation of ΔT for any time from -1999 to +3000. The uncertainty in ΔT over this period can be estimated from scatter in the measurements.
[1] Hybrid eclipses are also known as annular/total eclipses. Such an eclipse is both total and annular along different sections of its umbral path. (See: Five Millennium Catalog of Hybrid Solar Eclipses)
[2] The terms BCE and CE are abbreviations for "Before Common Era" and "Common Era," respectively. They are the secular equivalents to the BC and AD dating conventions. (See: Year Dating Conventions )
[3] Central solar eclipses are eclipses in which the central axis of the Moon's shadow strikes the Earth's surface. All partial (penumbral) eclipses are non-central eclipses since the shadow axis misses Earth. However, umbral eclipses (total, annular and hybrid) may be either central (usually) or non-central (rarely).
[4] Greatest eclipse is defined as the instant when the axis of the Moon's shadow passes closest to the Earth's center. For total eclipses, the instant of greatest eclipse is virtually identical to the instants of greatest magnitude and greatest duration. However, for annular eclipses, the instant of greatest duration may occur at either the time of greatest eclipse or near the sunrise and sunset points of the eclipse path.
Special thanks to Dan McGlaun for extracting the individual eclipse maps from the Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 for use in this catalog.
The Besselian elements used in the predictions were kindly provided by Jean Meeus. All eclipse calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Some of the information presented on this web site is based on data originally published in Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000
Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment:
"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus (NASA's GSFC)"
