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 -2999 to -2000 ( 3000 BCE to 2001 BCE[2]), Earth experienced 2362 solar eclipses. The following table shows the number of eclipses of each type over this period.
| Solar Eclipses: -2999 - -2000 | |||
| Eclipse Type | Symbol | Number | Percent |
| All Eclipses | - | 2362 | 100.0% |
| Partial | P | 841 | 35.6% |
| Annular | A | 806 | 34.1% |
| Total | T | 646 | 27.3% |
| Hybrid | H | 69 | 2.9% |
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 21st 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 | 1452 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 1409 | 97.0% |
| Central (one limit) | 22 | 1.5% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 21 | 1.4% |
| Annular Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Annular Eclipses | 806 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 774 | 96.0% |
| Central (one limit) | 17 | 2.1% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 15 | 1.9% |
| Total Eclipses | ||
| Classification | Number | Percent |
| All Total Eclipses | 646 | 100.0% |
| Central (two limits) | 635 | 98.3% |
| Central (one limit) | 5 | 0.8% |
| Non-Central (one limit) | 6 | 0.9% |
The longest central[3] solar eclipses of this period are:
Longest Total Solar Eclipse: -2230 May 17 Duration = 07m21s
Longest Annular Solar Eclipse: -2000 Dec 16 Duration = 11m36s
Longest Hybrid Solar Eclipse: -2954 Oct 06 Duration = 01m42s
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
----- -2983 Oct 26 23:55:13 71154 -61622 -24 A 0.1043 0.9159 1.1N 120.0E 84 209 321 09m55s
----- -2965 Nov 07 07:56:28 70620 -61399 -24 A 0.1054 0.9161 3.3S 3.0W 84 208 321 10m03s
----- -2947 Nov 17 15:56:24 70089 -61176 -24 A 0.1081 0.9170 7.2S 125.6W 84 206 317 10m09s
----- -2932 Aug 05 02:49:21 69656 -60994 -21 A -0.1914 0.9332 11.9N 67.5E 79 2 254 09m26s
----- -2929 Nov 28 23:54:36 69559 -60953 -24 A 0.1125 0.9186 10.5S 112.6E 84 203 310 10m11s
----- -2914 Aug 16 09:58:39 69129 -60771 -21 A -0.2351 0.9297 7.5N 42.4W 76 6 271 10m02s
----- -2911 Dec 09 07:48:28 69032 -60730 -24 A 0.1207 0.9210 13.0S 7.8W 83 200 301 10m09s
----- -2896 Aug 26 17:18:16 68603 -60548 -21 A -0.2702 0.9264 3.0N 155.3W 74 9 287 10m27s
----- -2893 Dec 20 15:38:19 68506 -60507 -24 A 0.1322 0.9239 14.6S 126.9W 82 196 290 10m02s
----- -2878 Sep 07 00:47:04 68079 -60325 -21 A -0.2978 0.9235 1.8S 89.3E 73 13 302 10m41s
----- -2875 Dec 30 23:19:31 67983 -60284 -24 A 0.1513 0.9274 14.9S 116.3E 81 191 276 09m48s
----- -2860 Sep 17 08:25:01 67557 -60102 -21 A -0.3179 0.9210 6.6S 28.6W 71 15 314 10m47s
----- -2856 Jan 11 06:54:13 67461 -60061 -24 A 0.1760 0.9313 14.0S 1.0E 80 186 261 09m27s
----- -2842 Sep 28 16:10:59 67037 -59879 -21 A -0.3314 0.9191 11.4S 148.5W 71 17 323 10m44s
----- -2824 Oct 09 00:04:18 66519 -59656 -21 A -0.3390 0.9178 16.2S 89.9E 70 19 330 10m37s
----- -2806 Oct 20 08:01:23 66004 -59433 -21 A -0.3436 0.9173 21.0S 32.4W 70 19 333 10m25s
----- -2788 Oct 30 16:03:07 65490 -59210 -21 A -0.3446 0.9174 25.6S 155.5W 70 19 333 10m09s
----- -2770 Nov 11 00:05:14 64978 -58987 -21 A -0.3457 0.9182 30.1S 81.8E 70 18 330 09m50s
----- -2752 Nov 21 08:08:02 64468 -58764 -21 A -0.3462 0.9198 34.3S 40.4W 70 16 324 09m27s
----- -2621 Nov 14 06:40:30 60825 -57144 -9 A 0.2881 0.9299 4.1N 23.9W 73 195 274 09m15s
----- -2603 Nov 24 14:47:13 60332 -56921 -9 A 0.2868 0.9287 0.4N 148.3W 73 192 279 09m40s
----- -2593 Nov 04 08:19:22 60061 -56798 -18 A 0.5858 0.9200 23.2N 38.3W 54 211 365 09m01s
----- -2585 Dec 05 22:51:48 59841 -56698 -9 A 0.2842 0.9282 2.8S 87.9E 74 189 281 09m58s
----- -2575 Nov 14 16:25:20 59571 -56575 -18 A 0.5861 0.9215 19.8N 163.6W 54 207 358 09m12s
----- -2567 Dec 16 06:49:20 59351 -56475 -9 A 0.2758 0.9284 5.6S 33.9W 74 185 279 10m06s
----- -2566 Dec 05 05:56:49 59325 -56463 1 A 0.9584 0.9103 53.9N 8.0W 16 195 1228 09m05s
----- -2560 Aug 02 03:38:07 59172 -56393 -15 A -0.6453 0.9333 17.5S 10.7E 50 2 326 09m10s
----- -2557 Nov 26 00:29:59 59083 -56352 -18 A 0.5880 0.9237 17.0N 71.5E 54 204 349 09m17s
----- -2549 Dec 27 14:40:50 58864 -56252 -9 A 0.2632 0.9292 8.0S 154.0W 75 180 275 10m02s
----- -2548 Dec 15 13:51:19 58838 -56240 1 A 0.9494 0.9135 50.4N 135.2W 18 188 1070 09m08s
----- -2542 Aug 13 10:44:12 58686 -56170 -15 A -0.6925 0.9304 22.7S 100.5W 46 6 361 09m13s
----- -2539 Dec 06 08:32:26 58597 -56129 -18 A 0.5923 0.9266 15.0N 52.8W 54 200 337 09m16s
----- -2530 Jan 06 22:21:52 58379 -56029 -9 A 0.2421 0.9304 10.0S 88.7E 76 176 269 09m46s
----- -2530 Dec 26 21:39:37 58353 -56017 1 A 0.9347 0.9174 46.5N 99.9E 20 181 896 09m04s
----- -2524 Aug 23 17:59:57 58201 -55947 -15 A -0.7319 0.9277 28.1S 145.3E 43 11 397 09m07s
----- -2521 Dec 17 16:30:37 58112 -55906 -18 A 0.6003 0.9300 13.9N 175.9W 53 195 324 09m04s
----- -2512 Jan 18 05:55:27 57896 -55806 -9 A 0.2154 0.9321 11.5S 26.5W 78 171 260 09m20s
----- -2408 Nov 28 07:19:01 55126 -54509 -6 A -0.0442 0.9232 19.9S 62.5W 87 22 290 09m13s
----- -2390 Dec 09 15:17:44 54656 -54286 -6 A -0.0378 0.9233 22.5S 176.7E 88 18 290 09m26s
----- -2372 Dec 19 23:11:39 54189 -54063 -6 A -0.0280 0.9240 24.1S 57.5E 88 13 287 09m36s
----- -2354 Dec 31 06:57:21 53723 -53840 -6 A -0.0116 0.9253 24.5S 59.4W 89 8 282 09m41s
----- -2335 Jan 10 14:35:02 53260 -53617 -6 A 0.0113 0.9270 23.4S 174.3W 89 186 274 09m41s
----- -2321 Sep 28 23:38:30 52883 -53435 -3 A -0.1696 0.9292 3.7S 43.0E 80 17 269 09m13s
----- -2317 Jan 21 22:03:06 52798 -53394 -6 A 0.0417 0.9292 21.1S 72.8E 88 180 266 09m35s
----- -2303 Oct 09 07:33:22 52423 -53212 -3 A -0.1797 0.9257 8.7S 78.6W 80 18 284 09m35s
----- -2299 Feb 01 05:22:29 52339 -53171 -6 A 0.0787 0.9316 17.4S 38.4W 86 176 257 09m24s
----- -2285 Oct 20 15:31:59 51965 -52989 -3 A -0.1861 0.9230 13.6S 159.1E 79 18 296 09m53s
----- -2284 Oct 08 14:31:48 51941 -52977 7 A 0.4936 0.9222 29.5N 171.8W 60 201 335 09m10s
----- -2281 Feb 12 12:29:52 51881 -52948 -6 A 0.1256 0.9342 12.5S 147.4W 83 172 247 09m05s
----- -2267 Oct 30 23:34:12 51510 -52766 -3 A -0.1891 0.9209 18.3S 36.2E 79 18 305 10m06s
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
----- -2266 Oct 19 22:31:09 51485 -52754 7 A 0.4874 0.9220 24.6N 65.2E 61 200 335 09m30s
----- -2249 Nov 11 07:37:12 51056 -52543 -3 A -0.1911 0.9195 22.7S 86.5W 79 16 311 10m13s
----- -2248 Oct 30 06:33:32 51031 -52531 7 A 0.4831 0.9226 20.1N 58.7W 61 198 331 09m45s
----- -2231 Nov 21 15:40:53 50604 -52320 -3 A -0.1923 0.9188 26.7S 151.2E 79 13 314 10m16s
----- -2230 Nov 10 14:40:19 50580 -52308 7 A 0.4819 0.9237 16.1N 176.4E 61 195 326 09m55s
----- -2213 Dec 02 23:40:19 50154 -52097 -3 A -0.1966 0.9189 30.3S 30.5E 78 10 314 10m11s
----- -2212 Nov 20 22:46:45 50130 -52085 7 A 0.4796 0.9256 12.5N 51.6E 61 192 318 09m57s
----- -2195 Dec 13 07:37:06 49706 -51874 -3 A -0.2030 0.9196 33.3S 89.0W 78 6 311 10m00s
----- -2194 Dec 02 06:53:13 49682 -51862 7 A 0.4771 0.9282 9.4N 73.2W 61 189 306 09m49s
----- -2177 Dec 24 15:26:26 49261 -51651 -3 A -0.2154 0.9209 35.7S 154.0E 77 1 307 09m40s
----- -2176 Dec 12 14:54:59 49237 -51639 7 A 0.4699 0.9315 6.6N 163.3E 62 185 290 09m29s
----- -2158 Jan 03 23:09:59 48817 -51428 -3 A -0.2322 0.9228 37.5S 38.9E 76 355 300 09m14s
----- -2090 Oct 24 07:54:12 47142 -50577 0 A 0.4322 0.9175 16.9N 90.9W 64 210 342 09m31s
----- -2072 Nov 03 15:53:32 46708 -50354 0 A 0.4375 0.9160 13.3N 146.5E 64 208 350 10m04s
----- -2054 Nov 14 23:55:36 46276 -50131 0 A 0.4403 0.9153 9.9N 23.1E 64 205 354 10m34s
----- -2036 Nov 25 07:56:41 45846 -49908 0 A 0.4438 0.9152 7.2N 100.0W 64 202 356 11m02s
----- -2018 Dec 06 15:55:26 45418 -49685 0 A 0.4490 0.9159 5.2N 137.6E 63 198 355 11m23s
----- -2003 Aug 24 02:06:36 45070 -49503 3 A -0.5620 0.9316 16.4S 29.4W 56 11 308 09m09s
----- -2000 Dec 16 23:49:28 44992 -49462 0 A 0.4578 0.9172 4.2N 16.5E 63 193 352 11m36s
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)"
