Solar eclipse of February 7, 2008

Solar eclipse of February 7, 2008

Partial from Christchurch, New Zealand
Map
Type of eclipse
Nature Annular
Gamma -0.957
Magnitude 0.965
Maximum eclipse
Duration 132 sec (2 m 12 s)
Coordinates 67°36′S 150°30′W / 67.6°S 150.5°W
Max. width of band 444 km (276 mi)
Times (UTC)
Greatest eclipse 3:56:10
References
Saros 121 (60 of 71)
Catalog # (SE5000) 9525

An annular solar eclipse occurred on February 7, 2008. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun's, blocking most of the Sun's light and causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring). An annular eclipse appears as a partial eclipse over a region of the Earth thousands of kilometres wide.

Visibility

Centrality was visible from parts of Antarctica. A significant partial eclipse was visible over New Zealand and an a minor partial eclipse was seen from southeastern Australia.

For most solar eclipses the path of centrality moves eastwards. In this case the path moved west round Antarctica and then north.

Observations

The best land-based visibility outside of Antarctica was from New Zealand. Professional astronomer and eclipse-chaser Jay Pasachoff observed it from Nelson, New Zealand, 60% coverage, under perfect weather.[1][2]

Images


Animated path

Related ecipses

Solar eclipses 2008-2011

Each member in a semester series of solar eclipses repeats approximately every 177 days and 4 hours (a semester) at alternating nodes of the Moon's orbit.

Solar eclipse series sets from 2008–2011
Ascending node   Descending node
SarosMap SarosMap
121

Partial from Christchurch, New Zealand
2008 February 7

Annular
126

Novosibirsk, Russia
2008 August 1

Total
131

Bandar Lampung, Indonesia
2009 January 26

Annular
136

Kurigram, Bangladesh
2009 July 22

Total
141

Bangui, Central African Republic
2010 January 15

Annular
146

French Polynesia
2010 July 11

Total
151

Partial from Vienna, Austra
2011 January 4

Partial (north)
156 2011 July 1

Partial (south)
Partial solar eclipses on June 1, 2011, and November 25, 2011, occur on the next lunar year eclipse set.

Metonic series

The metonic series repeats eclipses every 19 years (6939.69 days), lasting about 5 cycles. Eclipses occur in nearly the same calendar date. In addition the octon subseries repeats 1/5 of that or every 3.8 years (1387.94 days).

This series has 21 eclipse events, progressing from north to south between July 1, 2000 and July 1, 2076.

July 1-2 April 19-20 February 5-7 November 24-25 September 12-13
117 119 121 123 125

July 1, 2000

April 19, 2004

February 7, 2008

November 25, 2011

September 13, 2015
127 129 131 133 135

July 2, 2019

April 20, 2023

February 6, 2027

November 25, 2030

September 12, 2034
137 139 141 143 145

July 2, 2038

April 20, 2042

February 5, 2046

November 25, 2049

September 12, 2053
147 149 151 153 155

July 1, 2057

April 20, 2061

February 5, 2065

November 24, 2068

September 12, 2072
157

July 1, 2076

Notes

  1. Solar Eclipse in New Zealand, meade4m.com: Advisor/Partner: Jay Pasachoff
  2. 2008 Annular Eclipse Professor Jay Pasachoff, Williams College--Hopkins Observatory

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solar eclipse of 2008 February 7.