Solar eclipse of March 30, 2052 explained

A total solar eclipse will occur at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Saturday, March 30, 2052,[1] with a magnitude of 1.0466. 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. Occurring about 1.5 days before perigee (on April 1, 2052, at 6:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter will be larger.[2]

The path of totality will be visible from parts of central Mexico, the extreme southern tip of Texas, southeastern Louisiana, southeastern Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. A partial solar eclipse will also be visible for parts of Hawaii, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.

This will be the 2nd total eclipse visible from the Florida panhandle and southwest Georgia in 6.6 years. It will also be the last total solar eclipse visible in the United States until May 11, 2078.

Eclipse details

Shown below are two tables displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. The first table outlines times at which the moon's penumbra or umbra attains the specific parameter, and the second table describes various other parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[3]

March 30, 2052 Solar Eclipse Times! Event! Time (UTC)
First Penumbral External Contact2052 March 30 at 15:54:47.5 UTC
First Umbral External Contact2052 March 30 at 16:52:13.4 UTC
First Central Line2052 March 30 at 16:53:04.2 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact2052 March 30 at 16:53:55.0 UTC
First Penumbral Internal Contact2052 March 30 at 17:57:37.9 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction2052 March 30 at 18:28:31.3 UTC
Greatest Eclipse2052 March 30 at 18:31:52.9 UTC
Greatest Duration2052 March 30 at 18:33:58.8 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction2052 March 30 at 18:42:28.4 UTC
Last Penumbral Internal Contact2052 March 30 at 19:05:51.6 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact2052 March 30 at 20:09:40.8 UTC
Last Central Line2052 March 30 at 20:10:33.4 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact2052 March 30 at 20:11:25.9 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact2052 March 30 at 21:08:49.5 UTC
March 30, 2052 Solar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Eclipse Magnitude1.04664
Eclipse Obscuration1.09545
Gamma0.32385
Sun Right Ascension00h39m33.8s
Sun Declination+04°15'25.9"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'00.7"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension00h39m10.3s
Moon Declination+04°34'05.5"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'29.6"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax1°00'31.8"
ΔT85.4 s

Eclipse season

See also: Eclipse cycle. This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2052

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Solar Saros 130

Inex

Triad

Inex series

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March 30, 2052 Total Solar Eclipse. timeanddate. 15 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 15 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Total Solar Eclipse of 2052 Mar 30. EclipseWise.com. 15 August 2024.