Summary: The second 2013 solar eclipse is a rare hybrid solar eclipse Sunday, Nov. 3, favoring the Atlantic Ocean with brief annularity and then totality.
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| Earth visibility chart and eclipse statistics for hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC Emeritus," via NASA Eclipse Web Site |
The second 2013 solar eclipse is a rare hybrid solar eclipse Sunday, Nov. 3, with a flash of annularity favoring the western North Atlantic Ocean and a predominance of totality favoring most of the North Atlantic Ocean and passing through Central Africa for an exit at East Africa’s Horn.
November’s hybrid solar eclipse is doubly rare. Hybrid solar eclipses are the rarest of the four types of solar eclipses. In the 21st century, only seven of the century’s 224 solar eclipses are hybrid.
November’s hybrid solar eclipse displays rarity in its components. Hybrid eclipses mostly have central paths that begin in annularity, switch to totality and then revert to annularity before ending. Instead, November’s hybrid features brief annularity, lengthy totality and no return to annularity.
The region of the moon’s three-part shadow that traverses Earth’s surface determines a solar eclipse’s classification. Annularity represents the casting of the antumbra (Latin: ante “before” + umbra “shadow”) onto Earth’s surface. The antumbra comprises the lighter, outer extension of the shadow’s dark, innermost umbral region. Totality brings into play the moon’s umbral shadow.
Hybrid solar eclipses involve successive entries into the antumbra and the umbra. On the NASA Eclipse Web Site, retired astrophysicist Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse,” explains: “The duality comes about when the vertex of the Moon’s umbral shadow pierces Earth’s surface at some locations, but falls short of the planet along other sections of the path.” The curvature of Earth’s surface accounts for a hybrid’s “unusual geometry.” Some geographic locations fall within the umbra while the antumbra touches other, more distant places.
November 2013’s hybrid solar eclipse begins with entry of Earth’s surface into the lunar antumbra. Start time for the hybrid’s thin corridor is Sunday, Nov. 3, at 11:05:17.1 Universal Time (6:05:17 a.m. EST Eastern Standard Time). Starting location is the western North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1,000 kilometers (621.37 miles) due east of Jacksonville, Duval County, northeastern Florida. The NASA Eclipse Web Site clocks the location’s annular visibility, which occurs at sunrise, at 4 seconds.
After this first appearance, the path’s initially thin width of only 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) quickly narrows to zero. In total, the path of annularity only claims the first 15 seconds of the lunar shadow’s trajectory across Earth’s surface.
Annularity now switches to totality as Earth’s surface exits from the moon’s antumbra and enters into the lunar umbra. The path of totality quickly widens during its southeastward course over the open waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. By 11:10 UT, the path’s width measures 13 kilometers (8.07 miles).
Totality also increases. A totality of 16 seconds at 11:10 UT almost doubles within eight seconds. At 11:18 UT, totality lasts for 30 seconds.
At 12:00 UT (11 a.m. CVT Cape Verde Time), the path of totality glides 500 kilometers (310.68 miles) south of the Republic of Cabo Verde (Portuguese: República de Cabo Verde), an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. The path’s central line, which tracks the trek of the lunar shadow cone’s central axis across Earth’s surface,
experiences totality of 1 minute 18 seconds. The sun’s altitude measures 57 degrees above the horizon. The path claims a width of 56 kilometers (34.79 miles).
Greatest eclipse represents the instant of the closest passage of the lunar shadow cone’s axis to Earth’s center. The November 2013 hybrid solar eclipse’s greatest eclipse takes place at 12:46:28.6 UT in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 330 kilometers (205.05 miles) southwest of the west central African coastal Republic of Liberia.
At greatest eclipse, totality registers a maximum duration of 1 minute 39 seconds. The path of totality widens to 57 kilometers (35.41 miles). The sun’s altitude rises to 71 degrees above the horizon.
Landfall occurs at 13:51 UT (2:51 p.m. WAT West Africa Time) in the Wonga Wongue Reserve (Réserve de Wonga Wongué) on the northwest coast of Gabon (French: République gabonaise). The central line experiences totality of 1 minute 7 seconds. The sun has an altitude of 46 degrees above the horizon.
The Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia fall within the path’s steadily increasing northeasterly curve. Totality takes place at 14:22 UT (5:22 p.m. EAT Eastern Africa Time) at Uganda’s western border and lasts for only 23 seconds. Over northern Kenya’s Lake Turkana, totality happens at 14:25 UT (5:25 p.m. EAT) and
has a duration of 14 seconds.
Quick passage across southern Ethiopia leads to an end of totality at 14:27 UT (5:27 p.m. EAT) at Somalia on the Horn of Africa. Somalia’s totality occurs at sunset and lasts one second.
“Mr. Eclipse” lists November’s duration of 1 minute 40 seconds as the longest hybrid solar eclipse in the 21st century. The century’s shortest hybrid solar eclipse takes place Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2067, with a duration of only 8 seconds.
A partial solar eclipse signals the beginning and ending of November’s solar event. The partial solar eclipse begins at 10:04:34 UT (5:04:34 a.m. EST) and ends at 15:28:21 UT.
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| Figure 6 Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03 -- Central Path Through Africa: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC Emeritus," via NASA Eclipse Web Site |
A partial solar eclipse signals the beginning and ending of November’s solar event. The partial solar eclipse begins at 10:04:34 UT (5:04:34 a.m. EST) and ends at 15:28:21 UT.
The path of partiality takes place over a wider area of Earth’s surface. Continentally, the path of partiality includes all of Africa except for southern South Africa and parts of Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Oceanically, the path of partiality traverses the Atlantic Ocean and includes the western Indian Ocean.
November’s hybrid solar eclipse closes 2013 as the year’s second solar eclipse. The year’s first solar eclipse occurred Friday, May 10, as an annular solar eclipse. Of the 21st century’s 224 solar eclipses, 72 are annular.
November’s solar eclipse also closes 2013’s eclipse lineup as the last of the year’s quintet of two solar and three lunar eclipses. On Thursday, April 25, a partial lunar eclipse opened 2013 as the year’s first eclipse. The year’s other two lunar eclipses occurred as penumbral eclipses on Saturday, May 25, and Friday, Oct. 18.
The November 2013 hybrid solar eclipse belongs to Saros series 143. The Saros cycle guides the recurrence of eclipses. A Saros cycle equates to approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours).
Observers of November’s hybrid solar eclipse should use proper equipment and follow proper techniques during viewing of the rare event. Looking directly at the sun, whether the solar disk is unobscured or partially obscured, causes temporary or permanent damage to the retina’s light-sensitive rod and cone cells. Safety equipment and procedures are necessary during November’s annularity and partiality.
Directly looking at the sun is only safe during totality’s complete obscuration of the solar disk. NASA’s Brian Dunbar explains: “During the short time when the moon completely obscures the sun -- known as the period of totality -- it is safe to look directly as the star, but it’s crucial that you know when to take off and put back on your glasses.”
The takeaway for the second 2013 solar eclipse, which occurs as a hybrid solar eclipse Sunday, Nov. 3, is its double rarity, both as an uncommon eclipse type and as a two part hybrid of annularity and totality rather than as the common three part hybrid of annularity, totality and annularity again.
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| animation showing hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Eclipse Web Site, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
Acknowledgment
My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.
Image credits:
Image credits:
Earth visibility chart and eclipse data for hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC Emeritus," via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig05.pdf
Figure 6 Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03 -- Central Path Through Africa: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA GSFC Emeritus," via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig06.pdf
animation showing hybrid solar eclipse of Nov. 3, 2013: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Eclipse Web Site, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SolarEclipse2013Nov03H.GIF
For further information:
For further information:
Chou, B. Ralph. “Eye Safety During Solar Eclipses.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses Help.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety2.html
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety2.html
Dunbar, Brian. “Eye Safety During a Total Solar Eclipse.” NASA > Eclipses and Transits.
Available @ https://www.nasa.gov/content/eye-safety-during-a-total-solar-eclipse
“Eclipse Map -- November 3, 2013 Total Solar Eclipse.” Time And Date > Sun & Moon > Eclipses > November 3, 2013 -- Total Solar Eclipse.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2013-november-3
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2013-november-3
Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2013.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observers Handbook.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2013.html
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2013.html
Espenak, Fred. "Figure 5: Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipses Past and Future: Eclipses During 2013 > Eclipses During 2013: 2013 Nov 03 Hybrid Solar Eclipse: Total Solar Eclipse of November 3.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig05.pdf
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig05.pdf
Espenak, Fred. “Figure 6: Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 Nov 03 -- Central Path Through Africa." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Page: Solar Eclipses Past and Future: Eclipses During 2013 > Eclipses During 2013: 2013 Nov 03 Hybrid Solar Eclipse: Figure 6.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @@ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig06.pdf
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @@ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2013-Fig06.pdf
Espenak, Fred. “Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: 2001 to 2100 (2001 CE to 2100 CE).” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE2001-2100.html
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE2001-2100.html
Espenak, Fred. “Greatest Eclipse.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Glossary of Solar Eclipse Terms.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/SEglossary.html
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/SEglossary.html
Espenak, Fred. “Table 3: Path of the Umbral Shadow of the Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 November 03.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observers Handbook > Observers Handbook Tables > Observers Handbook 2013.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2013-Tab03.pdf
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2013-Tab03.pdf
Espenak, Fred. “Table 4 -- Local Circumstances for the Hybrid Solar Eclipse of 2013 November 03.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observers Handbook > Observers Handbook Tables > Observers Handbook 2013.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2013-Tab04.pdf
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2013-Tab04.pdf
Littmann, Mark; Ken Willcox; Fred Espenak. “Observing Solar Eclipses Safely.” MrEclipse > Totality.
Available @ http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality2/TotalityCh11.html
Available @ http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality2/TotalityCh11.html
Marriner, Derdriu. “First 2013 Solar Eclipse Is Annular Solar Eclipse Friday, May 10.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 8, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/first-2013-solar-eclipse-is-annular.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/first-2013-solar-eclipse-is-annular.html
Marriner, Derdriu. “First of Three 2013 Lunar Eclipses Happens April 25 as Partial Eclipse.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 17, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/first-of-three-2013-lunar-eclipses.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/first-of-three-2013-lunar-eclipses.html
Marriner, Derdriu. “Second of Three 2013 Lunar Eclipses Occurs May 25 as Penumbral Eclipse.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/second-of-three-2013-lunar-eclipses.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/05/second-of-three-2013-lunar-eclipses.html
Marriner, Derdriu. “Second of Two 2013 Penumbral Lunar Eclipses Happens Friday, Oct. 18.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/second-of-two-2013-penumbral-lunar.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/second-of-two-2013-penumbral-lunar.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, Hybrid Solar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 143." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/sunday-nov-3-2013-hybrid-solar-eclipse.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/sunday-nov-3-2013-hybrid-solar-eclipse.html
“November 3, 2013 -- Total Solar Eclipse.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2013-november-3
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2013-november-3
“November 3, 2013 -- Total Solar Eclipse -- Cape Verde Islands, Cabo Verde.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@3374818?iso=20131103
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@3374818?iso=20131103
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