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 century period -1999 to -1000 ( 2000 BCE to 1001 BCE[2]), Earth experienced 2401 solar eclipses. The following table shows the number of eclipses of each type over this period.
| Solar Eclipses: -1999 - -1000 | |||
| Eclipse Type | Symbol | Number | Percent |
| All Eclipses | - | 2401 | 100.0% |
| Partial | P | 843 | 35.1% |
| Annular | A | 782 | 32.6% |
| Total | T | 633 | 26.4% |
| Hybrid | H | 143 | 6.0% |
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 11th century BCE 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 | 1415 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 1381 | 97.6% |
| Central (one limit) | 18 | 1.3% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 16 | 1.1% |
| Annular Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Annular Eclipses | 782 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 759 | 97.1% |
| Central (one limit) | 11 | 1.4% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 12 | 1.5% |
| Total Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Total Eclipses | 633 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 622 | 98.3% |
| Central (one limit) | 7 | 1.1% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 4 | 0.6% |
The longest central[3] solar eclipses of this period are:
Longest Total Solar Eclipse: -1442 Jul 03 Duration = 07m05s
Longest Annular Solar Eclipse: -1655 Dec 12 Duration = 12m07s
Longest Hybrid Solar Eclipse: -1297 Sep 17 Duration = 01m40s
Long Annular Solar Eclipses are relatively rare. The following catalog lists concise details and local circumstances for all Annular Solar Eclipses with durations exceeding 09m 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
00035 -1985 Sep 04 09:29:03 44645 -49280 3 A -0.5977 0.9272 21.9S 144.3W 53 15 338 09m22s
00043 -1982 Dec 28 07:38:06 44567 -49239 0 A 0.4710 0.9191 4.2N 103.2W 62 189 346 11m38s
00078 -1967 Sep 14 16:59:19 44223 -49057 3 A -0.6263 0.9232 27.4S 98.7E 51 18 368 09m27s
00086 -1963 Jan 07 15:19:18 44145 -49016 0 A 0.4901 0.9215 5.4N 138.8E 61 185 340 11m26s
00121 -1949 Sep 26 00:37:49 43802 -48834 3 A -0.6477 0.9197 32.8S 20.4W 49 21 394 09m25s
00129 -1945 Jan 18 22:51:51 43725 -48793 0 A 0.5161 0.9243 7.8N 22.7E 59 180 333 10m58s
00164 -1931 Oct 06 08:23:27 43384 -48611 3 A -0.6630 0.9167 38.0S 140.9W 48 23 418 09m19s
00172 -1927 Jan 29 06:15:48 43307 -48570 0 A 0.5491 0.9274 11.5N 91.6W 57 176 326 10m18s
00207 -1913 Oct 17 16:15:51 42968 -48388 3 A -0.6726 0.9145 43.1S 97.3E 47 25 436 09m09s
00216 -1909 Feb 09 13:30:39 42891 -48347 0 A 0.5892 0.9307 16.3N 155.8E 54 172 320 09m28s
00586 -1763 Oct 08 22:26:40 39582 -46533 25 A 0.6488 0.9183 38.1N 22.1E 49 203 403 09m05s
00631 -1745 Oct 20 06:21:00 39184 -46310 25 A 0.6405 0.9160 33.2N 100.1W 50 201 411 09m50s
00677 -1727 Oct 30 14:18:33 38788 -46087 25 A 0.6350 0.9144 28.9N 136.8E 50 199 418 10m32s
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
00790 -1682 Nov 12 00:32:11 37809 -45530 6 A 0.9295 0.9078 47.1N 3.2E 21 218 936 09m08s
00812 -1673 Dec 02 14:21:47 37613 -45418 25 A 0.6274 0.9135 18.9N 125.0E 51 188 423 12m00s
00832 -1664 Nov 22 08:33:54 37420 -45307 6 A 0.9323 0.9083 46.1N 123.6W 21 212 955 09m26s
00852 -1655 Dec 12 22:17:54 37226 -45195 25 A 0.6207 0.9147 16.4N 2.5E 52 184 414 12m07s
00873 -1646 Dec 03 16:35:07 37033 -45084 6 A 0.9353 0.9095 45.6N 109.7E 20 206 971 09m36s
00893 -1637 Dec 24 06:11:25 36840 -44972 25 A 0.6119 0.9165 14.4N 119.4W 52 179 401 11m58s
00914 -1628 Dec 14 00:32:53 36649 -44861 6 A 0.9413 0.9113 46.1N 16.0W 19 200 1006 09m33s
00934 -1618 Jan 03 13:57:11 36456 -44749 25 A 0.5961 0.9190 12.6N 120.9E 53 175 382 11m34s
00955 -1610 Dec 25 08:26:41 36266 -44638 6 A 0.9505 0.9134 47.8N 140.8W 18 194 1076 09m18s
00975 -1600 Jan 14 21:36:47 36075 -44526 25 A 0.5753 0.9221 11.3N 3.0E 55 170 358 10m55s
01016 -1582 Jan 25 05:06:22 35695 -44303 25 A 0.5459 0.9257 10.1N 112.1W 57 166 331 10m07s
01050 -1568 Oct 12 14:47:54 35387 -44121 28 A -0.4012 0.9181 22.9S 91.6E 66 32 335 09m05s
01057 -1564 Feb 05 12:29:02 35317 -44080 25 A 0.5104 0.9297 9.3N 134.8E 59 162 303 09m13s
01091 -1550 Oct 23 22:41:00 35011 -43898 28 A -0.3911 0.9164 26.9S 28.5W 67 32 342 09m09s
01131 -1532 Nov 03 06:39:37 34637 -43675 28 A -0.3854 0.9154 31.1S 149.7W 67 31 346 09m11s
01170 -1514 Nov 14 14:39:37 34265 -43452 28 A -0.3807 0.9151 35.1S 89.3E 67 29 348 09m12s
01210 -1496 Nov 24 22:41:35 33895 -43229 28 A -0.3774 0.9154 38.8S 31.3W 68 26 346 09m09s
01250 -1478 Dec 06 06:41:47 33527 -43006 28 A -0.3725 0.9165 41.8S 150.7W 68 22 341 09m04s
01288 -1461 Dec 28 15:15:29 33180 -42795 18 A 0.3213 0.9331 5.2S 93.1E 71 188 263 09m12s
01329 -1442 Jan 07 23:08:57 32816 -42572 18 A 0.3369 0.9334 4.1S 27.0W 70 183 264 09m20s
01365 -1427 Sep 14 08:05:58 32501 -42378 31 A 0.2080 0.9256 20.2N 162.4W 78 197 286 09m27s
01370 -1424 Jan 19 06:52:57 32454 -42349 18 A 0.3595 0.9342 1.8S 145.0W 69 179 263 09m17s
01406 -1409 Sep 25 15:39:41 32141 -42155 31 A 0.1825 0.9229 14.4N 81.8E 79 198 296 10m00s
01412 -1406 Jan 29 14:27:44 32094 -42126 18 A 0.3890 0.9352 1.8N 98.9E 67 175 262 09m06s
01447 -1391 Oct 05 23:21:33 31783 -41932 31 A 0.1637 0.9207 8.9N 36.2W 81 198 304 10m27s
01488 -1373 Oct 17 07:10:35 31426 -41709 31 A 0.1509 0.9190 3.7N 155.9W 81 198 310 10m51s
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
01748 -1265 Dec 21 07:07:40 29331 -40371 31 A 0.1197 0.9229 16.6S 164.6W 83 179 293 10m44s
01794 -1247 Dec 31 15:01:47 28989 -40148 31 A 0.1084 0.9259 17.8S 76.3E 84 175 280 10m06s
01839 -1228 Jan 11 22:49:04 28648 -39925 31 A 0.0909 0.9295 18.4S 41.1W 85 170 265 09m19s
01920 -1196 Oct 09 15:46:43 28036 -39520 34 A 0.0883 0.9223 2.1N 61.0E 85 209 295 09m03s
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
01965 -1178 Oct 20 23:38:55 27701 -39297 34 A 0.1010 0.9212 1.6S 58.7W 84 209 299 09m18s
02012 -1160 Oct 31 07:36:48 27368 -39074 34 A 0.1089 0.9207 5.4S 179.9W 84 207 302 09m32s
02056 -1143 Nov 22 16:42:10 27056 -38863 24 A 0.7876 0.9179 30.5N 59.4E 38 204 494 09m36s
02058 -1142 Nov 11 15:38:43 27038 -38851 34 Am 0.1140 0.9209 8.9S 58.1E 84 204 301 09m43s
02079 -1134 Dec 13 06:01:40 26890 -38751 43 A 0.7477 0.9270 26.0N 157.1W 41 182 414 09m19s
02102 -1125 Dec 04 00:47:19 26727 -38640 24 A 0.7917 0.9169 29.4N 66.1W 37 199 508 10m07s
02104 -1124 Nov 21 23:42:19 26709 -38628 34 A 0.1179 0.9218 11.9S 64.0W 83 201 298 09m52s
02124 -1116 Dec 23 14:05:12 26563 -38528 43 A 0.7423 0.9267 24.4N 78.0E 42 178 412 09m30s
02147 -1107 Dec 14 08:49:04 26400 -38417 24 A 0.7982 0.9166 29.2N 169.2E 37 194 522 10m27s
02149 -1106 Dec 03 07:46:45 26383 -38405 34 A 0.1215 0.9234 14.2S 173.9E 83 197 291 09m54s
02168 -1097 Jan 03 22:01:28 26237 -38305 43 A 0.7314 0.9271 23.1N 44.9W 43 173 401 09m29s
02183 -1091 Aug 20 18:50:03 26118 -38223 37 A -0.1883 0.9345 5.6N 4.8E 79 12 248 09m00s
02190 -1089 Dec 25 16:46:10 26076 -38194 24 A 0.8081 0.9168 29.9N 45.6E 36 189 536 10m34s
02192 -1088 Dec 13 15:50:10 26058 -38182 34 A 0.1263 0.9256 15.7S 52.2E 83 193 282 09m49s
02211 -1079 Jan 14 05:51:35 25913 -38082 43 A 0.7159 0.9280 22.0N 166.1W 44 168 384 09m17s
02226 -1073 Sep 01 02:01:19 25795 -38000 37 A -0.2333 0.9321 0.4S 105.8W 77 14 261 09m13s
02233 -1070 Jan 05 00:37:09 25753 -37971 24 A 0.8224 0.9175 31.8N 76.6W 34 184 552 10m26s
02235 -1070 Dec 24 23:49:37 25736 -37959 34 A 0.1345 0.9286 16.1S 68.2W 82 188 270 09m35s
02269 -1055 Sep 11 09:21:49 25474 -37777 37 A -0.2710 0.9297 6.5S 141.2E 74 16 273 09m20s
02276 -1052 Jan 16 08:21:39 25432 -37748 24 A 0.8413 0.9186 34.7N 162.5E 32 178 573 10m03s
02278 -1051 Jan 04 07:45:10 25415 -37736 34 A 0.1463 0.9321 15.4S 172.2E 82 183 256 09m13s
02312 -1037 Sep 22 16:52:58 25155 -37554 37 A -0.3001 0.9278 12.3S 25.6E 72 18 283 09m21s
02319 -1034 Jan 26 15:55:58 25114 -37525 24 A 0.8683 0.9199 39.3N 43.4E 29 173 613 09m25s
02357 -1019 Oct 03 00:33:14 24838 -37331 37 A -0.3220 0.9261 18.0S 92.2W 71 19 293 09m18s
02399 -1001 Oct 14 08:21:12 24523 -37108 37 A -0.3380 0.9250 23.4S 148.4E 70 19 299 09m10s
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)"
