Saros Series Catalog of Solar Eclipses

Saros Series 104

Introduction

The periodicity and recurrence of solar eclipses is governed by the Saros cycle, a period of approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours). When two eclipses are separated by a period of one Saros, they share a very similar geometry. The two eclipses occur at the same node[1] with the Moon at nearly the same distance from Earth and at the same time of year. Thus, the Saros is useful for organizing eclipses into families or series. Each series typically lasts 12 to 13 centuries and contains 70 or more eclipses. Every saros series begins with a number of partial eclipses near one of Earth's polar regions. The series will then produce several dozen central[2] eclipses before ending with a group of partial eclipses near the opposite pole. For more information, see Periodicity of Solar Eclipses.


Statistics for Solar Eclipses of Saros 104

Solar eclipses of Saros 104 all occur at the Moon’s descending node and the Moon moves northward with each eclipse. The series began with a partial eclipse in the southern hemisphere on 0470 Apr 17. The series ended with a partial eclipse in the northern hemisphere on 1714 May 13. The total duration of Saros series 104 is 1244.08 years. In summary:

                      First Eclipse =   0470 Apr 17   10:26:56 TD
                       Last Eclipse =   1714 May 13   18:39:35 TD

                      Duration of Saros 104  =  1244.08 Years

Saros 104 is composed of 70 solar eclipses as follows:

Solar Eclipses of Saros 104
Eclipse Type Symbol Number Percent
All Eclipses - 70100.0%
PartialP 29 41.4%
AnnularA 41 58.6%
TotalT 0 0.0%
Hybrid[3]H 0 0.0%

Umbral eclipses (annular, total and hybrid) 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 in Saros series 104 appears in the following table.

Umbral Eclipses of Saros 104
Classification Number Percent
All Umbral Eclipses 41100.0%
Central (two limits) 39 95.1%
Central (one limit) 1 2.4%
Non-Central (one limit) 1 2.4%

The following string illustrates the sequence of the 70 eclipses in Saros 104: 7P 41A 22P

The longest and shortest central eclipses of Saros 104 as well as largest and smallest partial eclipses are listed in the below.

Extreme Durations and Magnitudes of Solar Eclipses of Saros 104
Extrema Type Date Duration Magnitude
Longest Annular Solar Eclipse 0957 Feb 0208m57s -
Shortest Annular Solar Eclipse 0614 Jul 1202m41s -
Largest Partial Solar Eclipse 1335 Sep 17 - 0.91345
Smallest Partial Solar Eclipse 0470 Apr 17 - 0.08666

Description of the Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 104

The catalog below lists concise details and local circumstances at greatest eclipse[5] for every solar eclipse in Saros 104. A description or explanation of each parameter listed in the catalog can be found in Key to Catalog of Solar Eclipse Saros Series.

Several fields in the catalog link to web pages or files containing additional information for each eclipse (for the years -1999 through +3000). The following gives a brief explanation of each link.


For an animation showing how the eclipse path changes with each member of the series, see Animation of Saros 104.



Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 104

                         TD of
 Seq. Rel.   Calendar   Greatest          Luna  Ecl.           Ecl.                Sun Path  Central
 Num. Num.     Date      Eclipse     ΔT   Num.  Type  Gamma    Mag.    Lat   Long  Alt Width   Dur.
                                      s                                 °      °     °    km

05867 -34  0470 Apr 17  10:26:56   5973 -18920   Pb  -1.4981  0.0867  71.0S 103.9E   0             
05910 -33  0488 Apr 27  17:36:45   5796 -18697   P   -1.4368  0.1983  70.3S  17.3W   0             
05954 -32  0506 May 09  00:40:11   5620 -18474   P   -1.3709  0.3179  69.5S 136.5W   0             
05998 -31  0524 May 19  07:37:25   5443 -18251   P   -1.3006  0.4452  68.7S 106.5E   0             
06043 -30  0542 May 30  14:29:35   5268 -18028   P   -1.2268  0.5781  67.7S   8.7W   0             
06089 -29  0560 Jun 09  21:18:56   5093 -17805   P   -1.1512  0.7134  66.7S 122.7W   0             
06135 -28  0578 Jun 21  04:06:31   4920 -17582   P   -1.0745  0.8494  65.7S 124.2E   0             
06181 -27  0596 Jul 01  10:54:33   4749 -17359   A-  -0.9988  0.9827  64.7S  11.5E   0             
06226 -26  0614 Jul 12  17:42:54   4578 -17136   A   -0.9237  0.9722  43.7S  84.8W  22  259  02m41s
06271 -25  0632 Jul 23  00:35:01   4409 -16913   A   -0.8522  0.9696  35.9S 170.9E  31  205  03m07s

06316 -24  0650 Aug 03  07:30:19   4242 -16690   A   -0.7836  0.9660  30.9S  66.0E  38  193  03m34s
06363 -23  0668 Aug 13  14:31:17   4076 -16467   A   -0.7202  0.9619  28.1S  40.3W  44  194  04m00s
06408 -22  0686 Aug 24  21:37:46   3913 -16244   A   -0.6619  0.9573  26.8S 147.8W  48  202  04m27s
06452 -21  0704 Sep 04  04:52:06   3751 -16021   A   -0.6104  0.9526  26.8S 102.8E  52  214  04m53s
06495 -20  0722 Sep 15  12:13:45   3592 -15798   A   -0.5655  0.9477  28.0S   8.2W  55  228  05m19s
06537 -19  0740 Sep 25  19:42:24   3435 -15575   A   -0.5269  0.9431  29.9S 120.9W  58  243  05m45s
06579 -18  0758 Oct 07  03:19:35   3280 -15352   A   -0.4959  0.9385  32.6S 124.4E  60  259  06m12s
06620 -17  0776 Oct 17  11:03:26   3129 -15129   A   -0.4712  0.9343  35.6S   8.5E  62  275  06m37s
06662 -16  0794 Oct 28  18:54:46   2980 -14906   A   -0.4528  0.9305  38.8S 108.9W  63  290  07m02s
06703 -15  0812 Nov 08  02:49:59   2835 -14683   A   -0.4381  0.9272  41.9S 133.5E  64  303  07m26s

06744 -14  0830 Nov 19  10:51:10   2694 -14460   A   -0.4289  0.9245  44.7S  15.1E  64  314  07m47s
06783 -13  0848 Nov 29  18:54:07   2556 -14237   A   -0.4215  0.9224  46.7S 102.8W  65  323  08m06s
06823 -12  0866 Dec 11  02:59:11   2421 -14014   A   -0.4163  0.9210  47.9S 139.5E  65  329  08m22s
06863 -11  0884 Dec 21  11:02:39   2291 -13791   A   -0.4102  0.9202  47.9S  22.5E  66  332  08m35s
06903 -10  0903 Jan 01  19:04:58   2165 -13568   A   -0.4032  0.9202  46.6S  94.4W  66  331  08m45s
06943 -09  0921 Jan 12  03:02:26   2043 -13345   A   -0.3925  0.9207  44.0S 149.1E  67  327  08m51s
06984 -08  0939 Jan 23  10:54:43   1926 -13122   A   -0.3778  0.9219  40.3S  32.8E  68  319  08m56s
07025 -07  0957 Feb 02  18:39:45   1813 -12899   A   -0.3573  0.9236  35.6S  82.9W  69  308  08m57s
07066 -06  0975 Feb 14  02:17:42   1705 -12676   A   -0.3314  0.9258  30.2S 162.2E  70  296  08m56s
07108 -05  0993 Feb 24  09:45:28   1601 -12453   A   -0.2971  0.9283  24.0S  49.0E  73  281  08m51s

07150 -04  1011 Mar 07  17:04:52   1501 -12230   A   -0.2559  0.9311  17.3S  62.7W  75  266  08m44s
07192 -03  1029 Mar 18  00:14:06   1407 -12007   A   -0.2064  0.9342  10.2S 172.3W  78  250  08m32s
07234 -02  1047 Mar 29  07:16:02   1317 -11784   A   -0.1510  0.9373   2.9S  79.8E  81  236  08m15s
07278 -01  1065 Apr 08  14:06:48   1231 -11561   A   -0.0864  0.9403   4.7N  25.3W  85  222  07m54s
07322  00  1083 Apr 19  20:52:17   1150 -11338   A   -0.0173  0.9432  12.3N 128.8W  89  210  07m28s
07367  01  1101 Apr 30  03:29:14   1074 -11115   Am   0.0594  0.9459  20.0N 130.3E  86  200  06m57s
07412  02  1119 May 11  10:03:00   1002 -10892   A    0.1386  0.9484  27.4N  30.9E  82  192  06m24s
07457  03  1137 May 21  16:30:23    934 -10669   A    0.2236  0.9504  34.5N  66.0W  77  187  05m51s
07502  04  1155 Jun 01  22:57:44    870 -10446   A    0.3088  0.9520  41.1N 161.5W  72  185  05m19s
07547  05  1173 Jun 12  05:22:44    810 -10223   A    0.3966  0.9531  47.0N 105.1E  66  187  04m51s


Catalog of Solar Eclipses of Saros 104

                         TD of
 Seq. Rel.   Calendar   Greatest          Luna  Ecl.           Ecl.                Sun Path  Central
 Num. Num.     Date      Eclipse     ΔT   Num.  Type  Gamma    Mag.    Lat   Long  Alt Width   Dur.
                                      s                                 °      °     °    km

07593  06  1191 Jun 23  11:49:25    754 -10000   A    0.4833  0.9539  52.0N  13.2E  61  193  04m28s
07639  07  1209 Jul 03  18:17:42    702  -9777   A    0.5692  0.9540  55.8N  77.1W  55  204  04m11s
07685  08  1227 Jul 15  00:51:05    653  -9554   A    0.6512  0.9537  58.3N 167.2W  49  222  03m59s
07730  09  1245 Jul 25  07:29:42    607  -9331   A    0.7295  0.9528  59.6N 102.3E  43  251  03m52s
07774  10  1263 Aug 05  14:14:43    564  -9108   A    0.8030  0.9515  60.0N  10.2E  36  295  03m49s
07817  11  1281 Aug 15  21:07:56    524  -8885   A    0.8702  0.9497  59.9N  84.2W  29  370  03m50s
07860  12  1299 Aug 27  04:09:37    487  -8662   A    0.9311  0.9474  60.0N 180.0E  21  526  03m53s
07902  13  1317 Sep 06  11:21:05    452  -8439   An   0.9843  0.9439  60.9N  87.6E   9   -   03m55s
07943  14  1335 Sep 17  18:41:54    419  -8216   P    1.0305  0.9134  60.9N  12.4W   0             
07984  15  1353 Sep 28  02:13:52    389  -7993   P    1.0684  0.8481  61.0N 134.1W   0             

08025  16  1371 Oct 09  09:55:25    360  -7770   P    1.0990  0.7952  61.3N 101.7E   0             
08067  17  1389 Oct 19  17:46:26    333  -7547   P    1.1226  0.7545  61.7N  25.0W   0             
08107  18  1407 Oct 31  01:46:22    307  -7324   P    1.1398  0.7250  62.3N 154.0W   0             
08147  19  1425 Nov 10  09:54:28    282  -7101   P    1.1506  0.7064  63.1N  74.8E   0             
08187  20  1443 Nov 21  18:08:47    259  -6878   P    1.1575  0.6946  63.9N  58.2W   0             
08227  21  1461 Dec 02  02:27:45    238  -6655   P    1.1614  0.6882  64.9N 167.3E   0             
08267  22  1479 Dec 13  10:50:14    217  -6432   P    1.1630  0.6858  65.9N  31.5E   0             
08307  23  1497 Dec 23  19:14:58    198  -6209   P    1.1634  0.6856  67.0N 105.2W   0             
08349  24  1516 Jan 04  03:38:41    180  -5986   P    1.1652  0.6830  68.1N 117.7E   0             
08390  25  1534 Jan 14  12:01:19    163  -5763   P    1.1685  0.6778  69.1N  19.7W   0             

08431  26  1552 Jan 25  20:19:44    148  -5540   P    1.1760  0.6655  70.0N 156.6W   0             
08472  27  1570 Feb 05  04:34:49    135  -5317   P    1.1866  0.6475  70.9N  66.6E   0             
08513  28  1588 Feb 26  12:42:31    124  -5094   P    1.2038  0.6178  71.5N  68.8W   0             
08554  29  1606 Mar 08  20:45:39    112  -4871   P    1.2253  0.5800  71.9N 156.4E   0             
08596  30  1624 Mar 19  04:40:36     88  -4648   P    1.2540  0.5288  72.0N  23.5E   0             
08641  31  1642 Mar 30  12:29:29     61  -4425   P    1.2884  0.4668  71.9N 108.0W   0             
08686  32  1660 Apr 09  20:10:11     35  -4202   P    1.3301  0.3906  71.5N 122.9E   0             
08732  33  1678 Apr 21  03:45:50     16  -3979   P    1.3765  0.3049  71.0N   4.5W   0             
08777  34  1696 May 01  11:15:19      8  -3756   P    1.4286  0.2078  70.2N 129.8W   0             
08822  35  1714 May 13  18:39:35     10  -3533   Pe   1.4856  0.1007  69.4N 106.9E   0             


Calendar

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..


Predictions

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:

  1. pre-1950's: ΔT calculated from empirical fits to historical records derived by Morrison and Stephenson (2004)
  2. 1955-present: ΔT obtained from published observations
  3. future: ΔT is extrapolated from current values weighted by the long term trend from tidal effects

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.


Footnotes

[1] The Moon's orbit is inclined about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun. The points where the lunar orbit intersects the plane of Earth's orbit are known as the nodes. The Moon moves from south to north of Earth's orbit at the ascending node, and from north to south at the descending node.

[2]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).

[3]Hybrid eclipses are also known as annular/total eclipses. Such an eclipse is both total and annular along different sections of its umbral path. For more information, see Five Millennium Catalog of Hybrid Solar Eclipses .

[4]Greatest eclipse is defined as the instant when the axis of the Moon's shadow passes closest to Earth's center. For total eclipses, the instant of greatest eclipse is nearly equal 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.


Acknowledgments

The information presented on this web page is based on data published in Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000 and Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: -1999 to +3000. The individual global maps appearing in links (both GIF an animation) were extracted from full page plates appearing in Five Millennium Canon by Dan McGlaun. The Besselian elements were provided by Jean Meeus. Fred Espenak assumes full responsibility for the accuracy of all eclipse calculations.

Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment:

"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak (NASA's GSFC)"


Return to:

Saros Series Catalog of Solar Eclipses

Periodicity of Solar Eclipses

Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses

2009 Sep 26