Solar eclipse of October 12, 1939

Solar eclipse of October 12, 1939
Map
Type of eclipse
Nature Total
Gamma -0.9737
Magnitude 1.0266
Maximum eclipse
Duration 92 sec (1 m 32 s)
Coordinates 72°48′S 155°06′E / 72.8°S 155.1°E
Max. width of band 418 km (260 mi)
Times (UTC)
Greatest eclipse 20:40:23
References
Saros 123 (49 of 70)
Catalog # (SE5000) 9374

A total solar eclipse occurred on October 12, 1939. 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. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide.

Related eclipses

Solar eclipses 1939-1942

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 1939-1942
Descending node   Ascending node
118April 19, 1939

Annular
123October 12, 1939

Total
128April 7, 1940

Annular
133October 1, 1940

Total
138March 27, 1941

Annular
143September 21, 1941

Total
148March 16, 1942

Partial
153September 10, 1942

Partial

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 between July 31, 1924 and July 31, 2000.

July 31-Aug 1 May 19-20 March 7 December 24-25 October 12
115 117 119 121 123

July 31, 1924

May 19, 1928

March 7, 1932

December 25, 1935

October 12, 1939
125 127 129 131 133

August 1, 1943

May 20, 1947

March 7, 1951

December 25, 1954

October 12, 1958
135 137 139 141 143

July 31, 1962

May 20, 1966

March 7, 1970

December 24, 1973

October 12, 1977
145 147 149 151 153

July 31, 1981

May 19, 1985

March 7, 1989

December 24, 1992

October 12, 1996
155

July 31, 2000

Notes

    References

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solar eclipse of 1939 October 12.