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 Total Solar Eclipses are relatively rare. The following catalog lists concise details and local circumstances for all Total Solar Eclipses with durations exceeding 06m 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
00001 -1999 Jun 12 03:14:51 44980 -49456 5 T -0.2701 1.0733 6.0N 39.4W 74 344 247 06m37s
00044 -1981 Jun 23 10:42:06 44556 -49233 5 T -0.3407 1.0693 3.3N 152.8W 70 348 240 06m28s
00079 -1966 Mar 11 03:42:14 44211 -49051 8 T -0.1456 1.0719 18.7S 44.7W 82 344 236 06m14s
00087 -1963 Jul 03 18:12:59 44134 -49010 5 T -0.4077 1.0646 0.1S 92.4E 66 352 231 06m12s
00122 -1948 Mar 21 11:25:32 43791 -48828 8 T -0.0878 1.0742 11.4S 164.1W 85 343 242 06m31s
00165 -1930 Apr 01 19:02:33 43373 -48605 8 Tm -0.0247 1.0760 3.7S 77.8E 89 342 246 06m43s
00208 -1912 Apr 12 02:33:41 42956 -48382 8 T 0.0431 1.0769 4.3N 39.2W 88 162 249 06m48s
00252 -1894 Apr 23 10:00:21 42542 -48159 8 T 0.1144 1.0770 12.5N 155.0W 83 162 251 06m45s
00297 -1876 May 03 17:23:23 42130 -47936 8 T 0.1886 1.0763 20.7N 90.3E 79 163 251 06m34s
00344 -1858 May 15 00:44:54 41719 -47713 8 T 0.2636 1.0746 28.8N 23.6W 75 165 251 06m15s
00502 -1796 Jul 16 13:11:22 40320 -46944 17 T 0.0193 1.0673 25.0N 149.3E 89 178 220 06m01s
00548 -1778 Jul 27 20:58:21 39919 -46721 17 T -0.0353 1.0658 20.8N 31.6E 88 2 215 06m01s
00676 -1727 May 06 04:43:17 38799 -46093 20 T -0.2975 1.0681 5.4S 86.0W 73 345 232 06m18s
00723 -1709 May 17 12:02:25 38405 -45870 20 T -0.2214 1.0711 2.5N 160.2E 77 347 237 06m38s
00767 -1691 May 27 19:22:45 38013 -45647 20 T -0.1459 1.0731 9.8N 46.6E 82 350 240 06m48s
00811 -1673 Jun 08 02:45:01 37624 -45424 20 T -0.0714 1.0742 16.6N 66.7W 86 353 241 06m49s
00851 -1655 Jun 18 10:11:15 37236 -45201 20 T 0.0000 1.0745 22.6N 179.9E 90 180 242 06m41s
00892 -1637 Jun 29 17:40:22 36850 -44978 20 Tm 0.0694 1.0740 27.7N 66.7E 86 182 241 06m27s
00894 -1636 Jun 18 10:49:52 36830 -44966 30 T -0.6688 1.0659 19.5S 170.4E 48 357 290 06m06s
00933 -1619 Jul 10 01:16:28 36467 -44755 20 T 0.1332 1.0727 31.7N 47.3W 82 187 238 06m08s
00935 -1618 Jun 29 18:17:57 36446 -44743 30 T -0.6021 1.0630 13.5S 54.4E 53 2 259 06m01s
01130 -1532 May 10 00:16:30 34647 -43681 23 T 0.0711 1.0758 17.0N 43.4W 86 154 246 06m12s
01169 -1514 May 21 07:39:13 34275 -43458 23 T -0.0042 1.0776 16.5N 154.2W 90 321 251 06m29s
01209 -1496 May 31 15:00:53 33905 -43235 23 Tm -0.0807 1.0785 15.2N 95.1E 85 340 254 06m44s
01249 -1478 Jun 11 22:26:44 33537 -43012 23 T -0.1541 1.0785 13.2N 16.9W 81 345 257 06m57s
01289 -1460 Jun 22 05:54:44 33171 -42789 23 T -0.2256 1.0776 10.4N 129.9W 77 349 257 07m04s
01330 -1442 Jul 03 13:27:32 32807 -42566 23 T -0.2933 1.0760 6.9N 115.5E 73 353 257 07m05s
01371 -1424 Jul 13 21:05:32 32445 -42343 23 T -0.3564 1.0736 2.8N 1.0W 69 358 256 06m58s
01405 -1409 Apr 01 14:10:45 32151 -42161 26 T -0.1337 1.0690 8.2S 105.6E 82 342 227 06m09s
01413 -1406 Jul 25 04:50:26 32085 -42120 23 T -0.4136 1.0707 1.8S 119.8W 66 2 252 06m42s
01446 -1391 Apr 11 21:43:28 31792 -41938 26 T -0.0681 1.0729 0.3S 11.4W 86 342 237 06m31s
01454 -1388 Aug 04 12:42:32 31727 -41897 23 T -0.4648 1.0672 6.8S 119.1E 62 6 247 06m19s
01487 -1373 Apr 23 05:11:28 31436 -41715 26 T 0.0018 1.0762 7.7N 127.2W 90 169 247 06m47s
01529 -1355 May 03 12:36:48 31082 -41492 26 Tm 0.0743 1.0785 15.7N 117.8E 86 165 254 06m53s
01571 -1337 May 14 20:00:27 30729 -41269 26 T 0.1487 1.0801 23.5N 3.8E 81 166 261 06m51s
01614 -1319 May 25 03:23:45 30379 -41046 26 T 0.2236 1.0807 31.0N 109.4W 77 169 267 06m41s
01658 -1301 Jun 05 10:47:32 30031 -40823 26 T 0.2982 1.0805 38.1N 138.3E 72 172 272 06m25s
01702 -1283 Jun 15 18:14:09 29684 -40600 26 T 0.3708 1.0793 44.5N 26.6E 68 177 276 06m03s
01874 -1214 Apr 05 09:54:42 28381 -39749 29 T -0.0874 1.0743 3.0S 153.5E 85 331 242 06m00s
01919 -1196 Apr 15 17:28:48 28045 -39526 29 T -0.1542 1.0772 2.2S 39.2E 81 331 252 06m16s
01964 -1178 Apr 27 00:57:21 27710 -39303 29 T -0.2259 1.0793 2.0S 73.7W 77 333 262 06m31s
02011 -1160 May 07 08:24:20 27377 -39080 29 T -0.2990 1.0806 2.4S 173.8E 73 335 271 06m45s
02057 -1142 May 18 15:48:36 27047 -38857 29 T -0.3742 1.0809 3.7S 61.8E 68 338 280 06m56s
02103 -1124 May 28 23:13:30 26718 -38634 29 T -0.4490 1.0804 5.8S 50.7W 63 341 288 07m03s
02125 -1115 Jun 18 06:11:48 26554 -38522 48 T -0.7726 1.0725 27.8S 163.4W 39 359 371 06m18s
02148 -1106 Jun 09 06:37:49 26391 -38411 29 T -0.5241 1.0788 8.9S 163.5W 58 345 297 07m04s
02169 -1097 Jun 29 13:42:32 26228 -38299 48 T -0.7034 1.0729 21.0S 79.6E 45 3 333 06m33s
02191 -1088 Jun 19 14:05:30 26067 -38188 29 T -0.5964 1.0763 12.9S 82.3E 53 349 307 06m56s
02212 -1079 Jul 09 21:15:56 25905 -38076 48 T -0.6363 1.0723 15.6S 37.1W 50 8 304 06m36s
02225 -1073 Mar 08 06:30:33 25803 -38006 32 T 0.1377 1.0668 1.5S 168.4W 82 164 220 06m03s
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
02234 -1070 Jun 30 21:35:38 25744 -37965 29 T -0.6661 1.0729 17.8S 33.1W 48 353 317 06m37s
02255 -1061 Jul 21 04:56:56 25583 -37853 48 T -0.5753 1.0709 11.6S 155.1W 55 12 281 06m28s
02268 -1055 Mar 18 14:21:47 25483 -37783 32 T 0.1890 1.0706 5.5N 70.5E 79 162 234 06m17s
02277 -1052 Jul 11 05:10:06 25424 -37742 29 T -0.7320 1.0689 23.6S 150.4W 43 358 330 06m09s
02298 -1043 Jul 31 12:43:14 25263 -37630 48 T -0.5187 1.0687 9.0S 86.1E 59 16 260 06m11s
02311 -1037 Mar 29 22:05:45 25164 -37560 32 T 0.2467 1.0737 12.9N 49.1W 76 161 246 06m25s
02356 -1019 Apr 09 05:44:22 24847 -37337 32 T 0.3091 1.0763 20.8N 167.5W 72 161 259 06m26s
02398 -1001 Apr 20 13:18:07 24532 -37114 32 T 0.3758 1.0780 28.9N 75.3E 68 161 272 06m20s
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)"
