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 -3999 to -3000 ( 4000 BCE to 3001 BCE[2]), Earth experienced 2387 solar eclipses. The following table shows the number of eclipses of each type over this period.
| Solar Eclipses: -3999 - -3000 | |||
| Eclipse Type | Symbol | Number | Percent |
| All Eclipses | - | 2387 | 100.0% |
| Partial | P | 846 | 35.4% |
| Annular | A | 803 | 33.6% |
| Total | T | 634 | 26.6% |
| Hybrid | H | 104 | 4.4% |
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 31st 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 | 1437 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 1411 | 98.2% |
| Central (one limit) | 16 | 1.1% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 10 | 0.7% |
| Annular Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Annular Eclipses | 803 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 787 | 98.0% |
| Central (one limit) | 11 | 1.4% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 5 | 0.6% |
| Total Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Total Eclipses | 634 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 624 | 98.4% |
| Central (one limit) | 5 | 0.8% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 5 | 0.8% |
The longest central[3] solar eclipses of this period are:
Longest Total Solar Eclipse: -3735 Apr 07 Duration = 07m12s
Longest Annular Solar Eclipse: -3124 Nov 24 Duration = 11m36s
Longest Hybrid Solar Eclipse: -3011 May 11 Duration = 01m47s
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
----- -3999 Dec 08 08:52:31 86400 -74187 -51 A 0.4340 0.9238 8.1N 51.3E 64 191 318 10m34s
----- -3984 Aug 25 17:49:37 86400 -74005 -48 A -0.2650 0.9242 6.1N 91.2W 75 17 295 10m06s
----- -3981 Dec 19 16:34:47 86400 -73964 -51 A 0.4167 0.9276 4.3N 65.5W 65 187 299 10m14s
----- -3966 Sep 06 01:25:58 86400 -73782 -48 A -0.2438 0.9221 4.8N 154.8E 76 21 302 10m02s
----- -3963 Dec 30 00:10:53 86400 -73741 -51 A 0.3937 0.9320 0.8N 179.4E 67 183 276 09m39s
----- -3948 Sep 16 09:10:41 86400 -73559 -48 A -0.2294 0.9204 2.4N 38.4E 77 24 308 09m54s
----- -3930 Sep 27 17:03:06 86400 -73336 -48 A -0.2207 0.9194 0.8S 80.0W 77 27 312 09m44s
----- -3912 Oct 08 01:00:13 86400 -73113 -48 A -0.2156 0.9190 4.7S 160.1E 78 29 313 09m32s
----- -3894 Oct 19 09:01:45 86400 -72890 -48 A -0.2137 0.9193 9.0S 39.1E 78 30 312 09m18s
----- -3877 Nov 10 18:11:25 86400 -72679 -58 A 0.4620 0.9210 16.8N 79.8W 62 210 332 09m04s
----- -3876 Oct 29 17:05:10 86400 -72667 -48 A -0.2128 0.9203 13.6S 82.4W 78 30 308 09m03s
----- -3859 Nov 21 02:11:39 86400 -72456 -58 A 0.4662 0.9208 13.2N 159.0E 62 207 333 09m28s
----- -3841 Dec 02 10:07:27 86400 -72233 -58 A 0.4733 0.9213 10.4N 39.0E 62 204 333 09m49s
----- -3823 Dec 12 17:54:49 86400 -72010 -58 A 0.4869 0.9224 8.6N 78.8W 61 200 332 10m05s
----- -3807 Aug 19 02:08:39 86400 -71816 -45 A 0.0432 0.9289 24.4N 148.7E 87 185 267 09m21s
----- -3805 Dec 24 01:34:52 86400 -71787 -58 A 0.5059 0.9238 7.9N 165.3E 60 196 330 10m16s
----- -3790 Sep 10 10:20:58 86400 -71605 -55 A -0.6736 0.9264 25.4S 17.3E 47 13 372 09m16s
----- -3789 Aug 30 09:38:40 86400 -71593 -45 A 0.0168 0.9270 20.5N 36.8E 89 188 274 09m42s
----- -3786 Jan 03 09:04:33 86400 -71564 -58 A 0.5331 0.9257 8.5N 51.9E 58 192 329 10m18s
----- -3772 Sep 20 18:11:28 86400 -71382 -55 A -0.6855 0.9225 29.5S 103.0W 47 17 398 09m23s
----- -3771 Sep 09 17:18:38 86400 -71370 -45 A -0.0018 0.9255 16.3N 78.0W 90 95 281 09m56s
----- -3768 Jan 14 16:26:01 86400 -71341 -58 A 0.5668 0.9278 10.3N 59.6W 55 187 328 10m11s
----- -3754 Oct 02 02:06:38 86400 -71159 -55 A -0.6930 0.9194 33.7S 135.7E 46 20 418 09m21s
----- -3753 Sep 21 01:07:02 86400 -71147 -45 A -0.0139 0.9245 11.9N 164.7E 89 16 285 10m01s
----- -3750 Jan 24 23:35:01 86400 -71118 -58 A 0.6101 0.9301 13.7N 168.4W 52 183 331 09m50s
----- -3736 Oct 12 10:06:40 86400 -70936 -55 A -0.6960 0.9170 37.9S 13.4E 46 23 434 09m15s
----- -3735 Oct 01 09:02:53 86400 -70924 -45 A -0.0201 0.9240 7.4N 45.3E 89 18 286 10m00s
----- -3732 Feb 05 06:36:06 86400 -70895 -58 A 0.6596 0.9323 18.3N 84.2E 49 179 337 09m18s
----- -3718 Oct 23 18:08:24 86400 -70713 -55 A -0.6975 0.9153 42.3S 109.0W 46 25 444 09m03s
----- -3717 Oct 12 17:03:16 86400 -70701 -45 A -0.0233 0.9243 2.8N 75.3W 89 18 286 09m54s
----- -3699 Oct 23 01:08:29 86400 -70478 -45 A -0.0229 0.9252 1.7S 162.8E 89 18 282 09m42s
----- -3681 Nov 03 09:15:14 86400 -70255 -45 A -0.0220 0.9268 6.3S 40.6E 89 17 275 09m26s
----- -3663 Nov 13 17:22:02 86400 -70032 -45 A -0.0217 0.9292 10.7S 81.5W 89 16 265 09m06s
----- -3550 Oct 26 07:47:49 86400 -68635 -33 A 0.6154 0.9189 33.9N 76.5E 52 202 386 09m16s
----- -3532 Nov 05 15:51:26 86400 -68412 -33 A 0.6165 0.9178 29.7N 46.0W 52 200 392 09m50s
----- -3514 Nov 16 23:52:36 86400 -68189 -33 A 0.6158 0.9174 25.8N 168.2W 52 197 394 10m20s
----- -3496 Nov 27 07:50:22 86400 -67966 -33 A 0.6126 0.9177 22.1N 70.4E 52 194 392 10m45s
----- -3478 Dec 08 15:42:55 86400 -67743 -33 A 0.6051 0.9188 18.6N 49.8W 53 190 385 11m02s
----- -3469 Nov 29 10:02:09 86288 -67632 -52 A 0.9485 0.9079 48.9N 64.8E 18 217 1098 09m03s
----- -3460 Dec 18 23:27:45 85992 -67520 -33 A 0.5913 0.9204 15.2N 169.7W 54 186 373 11m10s
----- -3451 Dec 09 17:52:54 85700 -67409 -52 A 0.9575 0.9094 49.4N 59.5W 16 212 1199 09m07s
----- -3442 Dec 30 07:04:48 85406 -67297 -33 A 0.5711 0.9227 12.1N 71.8E 55 182 356 11m04s
----- -3427 Sep 16 16:04:48 84929 -67115 -30 A -0.4001 0.9254 8.2S 76.0W 66 26 303 09m03s
----- -3423 Jan 09 14:32:20 84821 -67074 -33 A 0.5429 0.9254 9.0N 44.1W 57 178 334 10m45s
----- -3409 Sep 27 23:56:06 84346 -66892 -30 A -0.3895 0.9222 11.2S 162.9E 67 28 315 09m10s
----- -3405 Jan 20 21:50:21 84239 -66851 -33 A 0.5070 0.9285 6.3N 157.3W 59 173 310 10m12s
----- -3391 Oct 08 07:52:10 83765 -66669 -30 A -0.3829 0.9197 14.9S 40.6E 67 30 326 09m13s
----- -3387 Jan 31 04:57:37 83658 -66628 -33 A 0.4619 0.9319 3.8N 92.7E 62 169 286 09m30s
----- -3373 Oct 19 15:52:06 83186 -66446 -30 A -0.3797 0.9178 19.2S 82.7W 68 32 334 09m14s
----- -3355 Oct 29 23:54:14 82609 -66223 -30 A -0.3789 0.9165 23.7S 153.6E 68 32 339 09m13s
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
----- -3337 Nov 10 07:55:37 82034 -66000 -30 A -0.3775 0.9161 28.2S 30.5E 68 32 341 09m09s
----- -3319 Nov 20 15:54:50 81461 -65777 -30 A -0.3745 0.9164 32.5S 91.6W 68 30 341 09m03s
----- -3250 Sep 10 00:26:11 79293 -64926 -27 A 0.1724 0.9249 24.9N 147.8E 80 194 287 09m29s
----- -3232 Sep 20 08:09:28 78730 -64703 -27 A 0.1569 0.9218 20.0N 29.6E 81 196 299 10m03s
----- -3214 Oct 01 15:59:44 78169 -64480 -27 A 0.1475 0.9192 15.2N 90.7W 81 198 309 10m31s
----- -3196 Oct 11 23:54:09 77610 -64257 -27 A 0.1417 0.9173 10.4N 147.8E 82 198 317 10m54s
----- -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
----- -3070 Dec 27 07:18:24 73751 -62696 -27 A 0.1012 0.9236 17.1S 18.6E 84 182 290 10m40s
----- -3055 Sep 13 16:26:20 73308 -62514 -24 A 0.0687 0.9222 16.9N 118.0W 86 206 295 09m12s
----- -3051 Jan 06 14:51:34 73208 -62473 -27 A 0.0767 0.9270 19.6S 96.2W 86 177 275 10m00s
----- -3037 Sep 25 00:10:45 72766 -62291 -24 A 0.0841 0.9197 13.6N 123.9E 85 208 305 09m24s
----- -3033 Jan 17 22:16:28 72667 -62250 -27 A 0.0452 0.9308 21.5S 151.3E 88 172 260 09m11s
----- -3019 Oct 05 08:00:51 72227 -62068 -24 A 0.0948 0.9178 9.7N 4.0E 85 209 313 09m35s
----- -3001 Oct 16 15:56:30 71689 -61845 -24 Am 0.1007 0.9165 5.4N 117.6W 84 210 319 09m46s
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)"
