Earth and Space News: 2011 rare 4:2 eclipse lineup

Showing posts with label 2011 rare 4:2 eclipse lineup. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Fourth of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Friday, Nov. 25

Summary: The fourth of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Friday, Nov. 25, with Antarctica’s high latitudes favored for the path of visibility.

Earth visibility chart and eclipse statistics for partial solar eclipse of Nov. 25, 2011: "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 fourth of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Friday, Nov. 25, as a Southern Hemisphere event, with the path of visibility especially favoring Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, where summer’s 24-hour midnight sun reigns south of the Antarctic Circle.

Oceanically, the path of visibility also includes the South Atlantic, South Indian and South Pacific oceans. In addition to but also including the South Atlantic, South Indian and South Pacific oceans. Continentally, the Republic of South Africa on Africa’s southern tip and Tasmania, south of the Australian mainland, fall within the event’s path of visibility. Most of the southwestern Pacific island nation of New Zealand participates in the path of visibility for the fourth of four 2011 partial solar eclipses.

The moon’s passage between Earth and the sun occasions a solar eclipse for observers on Earth. A partial solar eclipse concerns a partial block or obscuration of the sun’s image by the moon.

First contact of the moon’s penumbral shadow with Earth’s surface announces the start of the fourth of four 2011 partial solar eclipses. The penumbra, which is the shadow’s lighter, outer region, first touches Earth’s surface Friday, Nov. 25, at 4:23:15.5 Universal Time (Friday, Nov. 25, at 6:23 a.m. South Africa Standard Time; Friday, Nov. 25, at 9:23 a.m. Davis Time in Davis Station, Antarctica; Thursday, Nov. 24, at 11:23 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). P1 is the astronomical designation for the instant of first contact between Earth’s surface and the moon’s penumbral shadow.

The moon’s penumbral shadow first makes contact with water on Earth’s surface. The South Atlantic Ocean off South Africa’s west coast claims the November 2011 event’s first touch.

On the NASA Eclipse Web Site, retired astrophysicist Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse,” gives 04:28 UT (6:28 a.m. SAST) as the eclipse start time for Cape Town, Western Cape Province, western South Africa. The eclipse begins at 05:31 UT (10:31 a.m. DAVT) for Davis Station in East Antarctica. Dunedin on the southeast coast of New Zealand’s South Island experiences an eclipse start time of 07:03 UT (8:03 p.m. New Zealand Daylight Time). The eclipse starts at 07:30 UT (6:03 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time) for Hobart, on the southeast coast of the Australian island state of Tasmania.

Greatest eclipse happens Friday, Nov. 25, at 06:20:16.6 UT (Friday, Nov. 25, at 1:20 a.m. EDT). Greatest eclipse signals the instant of closest passage of the axis of the lunar shadow cone to Earth’s center.

The instant of greatest eclipse takes place near the coast of West Antarctica, also known as Lesser Antarctica). Fred Espenak places the passage of the lunar shadow axis at only 330 kilometers (205.05 miles) above Earth’s surface at the instant of greatest eclipse.

The fourth of four 2011 partial solar eclipses ends with the lunar penumbra’s last contact with Earth’s surface. Last contact occurs Friday, Nov. 25, at 08:17:15.6 UT (3:17 a.m. EDT). P4 is the astronomical designation for the instant of last contact between Earth’s surface and moon’s penumbral shadow, as the moon exits from the sun’s edge, known as limb.

“Mr. Eclipse” gives 05:08 UT (7:08 a.m. SAST) as the eclipse end time for Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, southeastern South Africa. The November 2011 partial solar eclipse ends at 08:08 UT (7:08 p.m. AEDT) for Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart. Australia’s Casey Station on the northern side of eastern Antarctica’s Bailey Peninsula clocks the eclipse’s end at 07:45 UT (6:45 p.m. CAST -- Casey Standard Time).

Sunset prevents New Zealanders from viewing the November 2011 partial solar eclipse in its entirety. By greatest eclipse, the sun is already close to the horizon. Time And Date web site recommends that New Zealanders find observation sites with free sight to the west-southwest for greatest eclipse visibility. Within one to 30-plus minutes of the greatest eclipse, the sun slips below the horizon and effectively ends the event for New Zealanders.

The November 2011 partial solar eclipse belongs to Saros 123. The Saros cycle recognizes families, known as series, for solar eclipses as well as for lunar eclipses. A Saros cycle approximates 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours).

The fourth of four 2011 partial solar eclipse takes place about four and three-fourths months after the year’s third partial solar eclipse, which occurred Friday, July 1. The November 2011 event shares its predecessor’s favoring of the Southern Hemisphere for visibility.

The November 2011 event closes the year’s lineup of four partial solar eclipses. The year’s first and second partial solar eclipses happened Tuesday, Jan. 4, and Wednesday, June 1, respectively. Both eclipses favored the Northern Hemisphere.

A total lunar eclipse midway through the year, on Wednesday, June 15, and a second and final total lunar eclipse on Saturday, Dec. 10, contribute to 2011’s rare 4:2 eclipse combination. In the 21st century, 2011 numbers among only six years featuring the 4:2 combination: 2011, 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094.

Observers along the path of visibility should avoid direct viewing of the partial solar eclipse. Safe viewing of partial solar eclipses calls for use of proper equipment and following of proper techniques.

The takeaway for the fourth of four 2011 partial solar eclipses, which happens Friday, Nov. 25, is the event’s favoring of the Southern Hemisphere, focused on Antarctica, for visibility.

animation of Nov. 25, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), 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:

animation of Nov. 25, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SE2011Nov25P.gif

For further information:

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2011.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer’s Handbook.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.html

Espenak, Fred. “Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: 2001 to 2100 (2001 CE to 2100 CE).” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE2001-2100.html

Espenak, Fred. “Greatest Eclipse.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Glossary of Solar Eclipse Terms.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/SEglossary.html

Espenak, Fred. “Table 4 -- Local Circumstances for Partial Solar Eclipse of 2011 November 25.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer’s Handbook > Observer’s Handbook Tables > Observer’s Handbook 2011.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2011-Tab04.pdf

Littmann, Mark; Ken Willcox; Fred Espenak. “Observing Solar Eclipses Safely.” MrEclipse > Totality.
Available @ http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality2/TotalityCh11.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “First of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Tuesday, Jan. 4.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-of-four-2011-partial-solar.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “First of Two 2011 Total Lunar Eclipses Happens Wednesday, June 15.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 8, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-of-two-2011-total-lunar-eclipses.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Second of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Wednesday, June 1.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 25, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/05/second-of-four-2011-partial-solar.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Third of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Friday, July 1.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 29, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/third-of-four-2011-partial-solar.html

“November 25, 2011 -- Partial Solar Eclipse.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2011-november-25

“November 25, 2011 -- Partial Solar Eclipse -- Davis, Antarctica (Davis Base, Vestfold Hills.” Time And Date > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/antarctica/davis?iso=20111125

"November 25, 2011 -- Partial Solar Eclipse -- Dunedin, New Zealand (Ōtepoti)." Time And Date > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/new-zealand/dunedin?iso=20111125

“Time Zone Changes in Antarctica in 2010.” Time And Date > Time Zones > Time Zone News.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/news/time/antartica-time-changes-2010.html

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Third of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Friday, July 1

Summary: The third of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Friday, July 1, as a Southern Hemisphere event favoring coastal East Antarctica.

Earth visibility chart and eclipse statistics for partial solar eclipse of July 1, 2011: "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 third of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Friday, July 1, as a Southern Hemisphere event with a small D-shaped visibility area favoring the meeting place of the South Atlantic, Indian and Southern oceans around coastal East Antarctica.

Time And Date web site notes that the July 2011 partial solar eclipse’s exclusively small path of visibility does not encompass any major population centers. On the NASA Eclipse Web Site, retired astrophysicist Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse,” observes: “Such a remote and isolated path means that it may very well turn out to be the solar eclipse that nobody sees.”

The lunar passage between Earth and the sun yields a solar eclipse for Earthlings. A partial solar eclipse signifies that the moon’s passage partly, but not totally, covers the solar surface, from Earth’s perspective.

Only the moon’s lighter, outer shadow, known as the penumbra, traverses Earth’s surface in a partial solar eclipse. The shadow’s two other regions -- the darkest, innermost region, known as the umbra, and the lighter area, known as the antumbra, extending beyond the umbra -- miss Earth’s surface.

The third of four 2011 partial solar eclipses begins with the first casting of the lunar penumbra onto Earth’s surface. The first contact happens Friday, July 1, at 07:53:41.6 Universal Time (10:53 a.m. Antarctica/Syowa Time Zone; 3:53 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time), according to the NASA Eclipse Web Site. P1 is the designator for the instant of the penumbra’s first casting onto Earth’s surface.

Greatest eclipse takes place at 08:38:22.7 UT (11:38 a.m. SYOT; 4:38 a.m. EDT). Greatest eclipse marks the instant of closest passage of the axis of the lunar shadow cone to Earth’s center.

The penumbra’s last casting onto Earth’s surface signifies the end of the July 2011 partial solar eclipse. Exit from the moon’s penumbral shadow occurs at 09:22:47.6 UT (12:22 p.m. SYOT; 5:22 a.m. EDT). P4 is the designator for the penumbra’s last casting onto Earth’s surface.

Time And Date identifies Lützow-Holm Bay as the site where the lunar penumbra briefly touches Earth’s surface. The large bay indents the coast of East Antarctica’s Queen Maud Land (Norwegian: Dronning Maud Land). The bay’s western portal is Riiser-Larsen Peninsula. Its eastern portal is the Flatvaer Islands, also known as the Ongul (“Fishhook”) Islands. Claimed as a dependent territory by Norway, Queen Maud Land honors Maud of Wales (Nov. 26, 1869-Nov. 20, 1938), Queen consort of Norway from Nov. 18, 1905, until her death.

The third of four 2011 partial solar eclipses opens Saros series 156. The July 2011 partial solar eclipse is the first of 17 partial solar eclipses in Saros 156.

The third of four 2011 partial solar eclipses takes place just one lunation after its predecessor. The year’s second partial solar eclipse occurred Wednesday, June 1.

The July 2011 partial solar eclipse is succeeded by the year’s fourth and last partial solar eclipse on Friday, Nov. 25. The November 2011 partial solar eclipse anticipates an absence of partial solar eclipses from the eclipse lineup throughout 2012 and 2013. The next partial solar eclipse does not take place until Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014.

The 2011 eclipse lineup comprises a rare 4:2 combination of four solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. On Wednesday, June 15, a total lunar eclipse punctuates the year’s first two partial solar eclipses. The year’s second lunar eclipse, which is also total, closes the year on Saturday, Dec. 10, as follow-up to 2011’s third and fourth partial solar eclipses.

The 2011 eclipse lineup initiates the occurrence of the rare 4:2 combination in the 21st century. Only five other years offer the 4:2 combination: 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094.

The year’s four solar eclipses qualify 2011 as containing the second highest number of annual solar eclipses. From Earth’s perspective, the number of annual solar eclipses spans two as an annual minimum to five as an annual maximum.

Observers along the path of visibility should recall that direct viewing of partial solar eclipses is unsafe. Safe viewing of partial solar eclipses calls for use of proper equipment and following of proper techniques.

The takeaway for the third of four 2011 partial solar eclipses, which takes place Friday, July 1, is the favoring the Southern Hemisphere with a small D-shaped area off coastal East Antarctica for the event’s exclusive, isolated and remote path of visibility.

animation of July 1, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), 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:

animation of July 1, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SE2011Jul01P.gif

For further information:

“July 1, 2011 -- Partial Solar Eclipse.” Time And Date > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available via Time And Date @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2011-july-1

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2011.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer’s Handbook.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.html

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

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

Espenak, Fred. "Partial Solar Eclipse of 2011 Jul 01." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page: Lunar Eclipses: Past and Future: Eclipses During 2011 > Eclipses During 2011: 2011 Jul 01: Partial Solar Eclipse.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2011-Fig04.pdf

Littmann, Mark; Ken Willcox; Fred Espenak. “Observing Solar Eclipses Safely.” MrEclipse > Totality.
Available @ http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality2/TotalityCh11.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "First of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Tuesday, Jan. 4." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/first-of-four-2011-partial-solar.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "First of Two 2011 Total Lunar Eclipses Happens Wednesday, June 15." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 8, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/first-of-two-2011-total-lunar-eclipses.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "July 1, 2011, Partial Solar Eclipse Opens Saros Series 156." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 22, 2011. Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/july-1-2011-partial-solar-eclipse-opens.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Second of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Wednesday, June 1." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 25, 2011.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/05/second-of-four-2011-partial-solar.html

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

First of Two 2011 Total Lunar Eclipses Happens Wednesday, June 15

Summary: The first of two 2011 total lunar eclipses happens Wednesday, June 15, and favors four continents with visibility of the entire eclipse.

details of the moon's passage through Earth's shadow during June 2011 lunar eclipse and the June 2011 lunar eclipse visibility areas: "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 first of two 2011 total lunar eclipses happens Wednesday, June 15, and favors four (Antarctica, central and western Asia, western Australia) of the world’s seven continents with visibility of the entire eclipse.

The visibility region separates the Americas. Greenland and North America are excluded from visibility of any portion of the June 2011 eclipse.

Apart from all of Ecuador and portions of Colombia, Peru and Venezuela, most of South America falls within the visibility area for portions of the lunar eclipse. Totality is available to observers in eastern Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

Occurrence of the eclipse’s early stages before moonrise prevents observation of the entire event in Europe. Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse,” notes on NASA’s Eclipse Web Site that, apart from northern Scotland and northern Scandinavia, totality is fortuitously available throughout Europe. Iceland, however, is excluded completely from the visibility area.

Occurrence of the eclipse’s last stages after moonset deprives eastern Asia, eastern Australia and New Zealand of visibility of the entire ecliptic event.

The first of two 2011 total lunar eclipses begins and ends with a penumbral eclipse, which defines the astronomical event’s parameters. The penumbral eclipse lasts for 5 hours 36 minutes 11 seconds.

Partial and total eclipses occur within the penumbral eclipse’s framework. The partial eclipse endures for 3 hours 39 minutes 44 seconds. The total eclipse spans 1 hour 40 minutes 12 seconds.

According to NASA’s Eclipse Web Site, the first of two 2011 total lunar eclipses begins Wednesday, June 15, as a penumbral eclipse at 17:24:34 UT (1:24 p.m. EDT). Astronomers designate the penumbral lunar eclipse’s start time as P1.

The partial eclipse phase begins at 18:22:56 UT (2:22 p.m. EDT). U1 is the designator for the partial lunar eclipse’s start time.

The June 2011 lunar eclipse commences totality at 19:22:30 UT (3:22 p.m. EDT). U2 designates the total lunar eclipse’s start time.

Greatest eclipse happens at 20:12:37 UT (4:12 EDT). Greatest eclipse represents the instant of the moon's closest passage to the axis of Earth's shadow.

The total lunar eclipse phase ends at 21:02:42 UT (5:02 EDT). U3 is the designator for the total lunar eclipse’s end time.

The partial lunar eclipse phase ends at 22:02:15 UT (6:02 p.m. EDT). U4 designates the partial lunar eclipse’s end time.

The penumbral phase of the June 2011 lunar eclipse ends at 23:00:45 UT (7:00 EDT). P4 is the designator for the penumbral lunar eclipse’s end time.

The second 2011 lunar eclipse also experiences totality. Occurring Saturday, Dec. 10, the year’s second total lunar eclipse excludes the continents of Antarctica and South America from visibility.

Fred Espenak notes on NASA’s Eclipse Web Site that the 2011 eclipse lineup features a rare 4:2 combination of two total lunar eclipses and four partial solar eclipses. The 21st century witnesses only six 4:2 combinations: 2011, 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094.

The June 2011 total lunar eclipse belongs to Saros Series 130. The Saros cycle organizes lunar and solar eclipses into families, known as series. A Saros cycle endures for approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours).

The takeaway for the Wednesday, June 15, event as the first of two 2011 total lunar eclipses is the favoring of four of Earth’s seven continents with entire visibility.

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

graphic of "orientation of the earth as viewed from the center of the moon during greatest eclipse" for total lunar eclipse of Wednesday, June 15, 2011: Tom Ruen (SockPuppetForTomruen), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunar_eclipse_from_moon-2011Jun15.png

For further information:

“December 10 / December 11, 2011 -- Total Lunar Eclipse.” Time And Date > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2011-december-10

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2011.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.html

Espenak, Fred. “Lunar Eclipses: 2011-2020.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEdecade/LEdecade2011.html

Espenak, Fred. "Table 3 -- Crater Immersion and Emersion Times for the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2011 June 15." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer's Handbook > Observer's Handbook Tables.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2011-Tab03.pdf

Espenak, Fred. "Total Lunar Eclipse of 2011 Jun 15." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipses: 2011-2020: 2011 Jun 15.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2011Jun15T.pdf

Espenak, Fred; Jean Meeus. "Saros Series 130." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series.
Available A https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaros130.html

“June 15 / June 16, 2011 Total Lunar Eclipse.” Time And Date > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2011-june-15

Marriner, Derdriu. “2010 Total Lunar Eclipse Tuesday, Dec. 21, Favors North America.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/2010-total-lunar-eclipse-tuesday-dec-21.html

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Second of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Wednesday, June 1

Summary: The second of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Wednesday, June 1, with the Northern Hemisphere’s high latitudes favored for visibility.

Earth visibility chart and eclipse statistics for partial solar eclipse of June 1, 2011: "Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC," Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The second of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Wednesday, June 1, with the path of visibility favoring the Northern Hemisphere’s high latitudes.

On the NASA Eclipse Web Site, retired astrophysicist Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse,” observes that the June 2011 partial solar eclipse entails partial obscuring of the midnight sun in areas in Scandinavia that lie above the Arctic Circle. Partial eclipses of the midnight sun occur for Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

In North America, most of Alaska and northern Canada fall within the partial solar eclipse’s visibility path. The path’s southern limit across Earth’s surface curves from south of Fairbanks in east central Alaska to eastern Canada’s central New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

From Earth’s perspective, a solar eclipse ensues from the moon’s passage between Earth and the solar system’s sun. A partial obscuring of the solar image produces a partial solar eclipse for observers on Earth.

First touching of Earth’s surface by the moon’s penumbra marks the beginning of the second of four 2011 partial solar eclipses. The penumbral shadow’s first touches take place Wednesday, June 1, at 19:25:18 Universal Time (3:25:18 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time). P1 is the designator for the instant of first touches by the penumbra, the shadow’s lighter, outer region.

The NASA Eclipse Web Site indicates sunrise in northern China and in Siberia as points of first touches on the Earth’s surface.

Greatest eclipse takes place Wednesday, June 1, at 21:16:11 UT (5:16:11 p.m. EDT). Greatest eclipse represents the instant of closest passage of the axis of the lunar shadow cone to Earth’s center.

The penumbra’s last touching of Earth’s surface marks the eclipse’s end. Exit from the moon’s penumbral shadow happens Wednesday, June 1, at 23:06:56 UT (7:06:56 p.m. EDT). P4 is the designator for the last penumbral contact with Earth’s surface.

“Mr. Eclipse” notes that the penumbra last touches Earth’s surface over water. Last contact takes place in the Atlantic Ocean, just north of Newfoundland.

The June 2011 partial solar eclipse belongs to Saros 118. According to the Saros cycle, lunar eclipses and solar eclipses belong to families, known as series. A Saros cycle covers approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours).

The second of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens five and one-third months after the year’s first partial solar eclipse. The Tuesday, Jan. 4, partial solar eclipse opened the eclipse lineup. The year’s third and fourth partial solar eclipses take place Friday, July 1, and Friday, Nov. 25, respectively.

The 2011 eclipse lineup presents a rare 4:2 combination of four solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. Only six years in the 21st century exhibit the 4:2 combination: 2011, 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094.

The year’s two lunar eclipses are both total. The first of 2011’s two total lunar eclipses occurs Wednesday, June 15. The second total lunar eclipse closes the 2011 eclipse lineup on Friday, Dec. 10.

The 2011 lineup of four partial solar eclipses also distinguishes the year. Only six years in the 21st century experience four solar eclipses. The number of annual solar eclipses ranges from a minimum of two per year to a maximum of five per year.

Observers along the path of visibility should remember that direct viewing of partial solar eclipses is unsafe. Use of proper equipment and following of proper techniques are necessary for safe viewing of partial solar eclipses.

The takeaway for the second of four 2011 partial solar eclipses, which happens Wednesday, June 1, is the event’s favoring of the Northern Hemisphere’s high latitudes for visibility.

animation of June 1, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), 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:

Earth visibility chart and eclipse statistics for partial solar eclipse of June 1, 2011: "Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC," Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SE2011Jun01P.png

animation of June 1, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SE2011Jun01P.gif

For further information:

“June 1, 2011 -- Partial Solar Eclipse.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2011-june-1

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2011.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer’s Handbook.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.html

Espenak, Fred. “Greatest Eclipse.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Glossary of Solar Eclipse Terms.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/SEglossary.html

Espenak, Fred. “Table 2 -- Local Circumstances for Partial Solar Eclipse of 2011 June 01.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer’s Handbook > Observer’s Handbook Tables.
Available @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2011-Tab02.pdf

Littmann, Mark; Ken Willcox; Fred Espenak. “Observing Solar Eclipses Safely.” MrEclipse > Totality.
Available @ http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality2/TotalityCh11.html

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

First of Four 2011 Partial Solar Eclipses Happens Tuesday, Jan. 4

Summary: The first of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Tuesday, Jan. 4, with North Africa, western and central Asia, and Europe favored for visibility.

Earth visibility chart and eclipse statistics for partial solar eclipse of Jan. 4, 2011: "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 first of four 2011 partial solar eclipses happens Tuesday, Jan. 4, with the path of visibility favoring North Africa, western and central Asia, and Europe.

The moon’s passage between Earth and the solar system’s sun occasions a solar eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs as a partial obscuring of the solar image for observers on Earth. The first of four 2011 partial solar eclipses begins with first contact of the moon’s penumbral shadow with Earth’s surface. First contact takes place Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 6:40:11 Universal Time (7:40:11 a.m. Central European Time in Rome, Italy; 1:40:11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time). P1 is the designator for first contact with the shadow’s light, outer region, known as penumbra.

The NASA Eclipse Web Site identifies northern Algeria as the location on the Earth’s surface where the moon’s penumbral shadow makes first contact.

In Rome, Italy, where sunrise takes place at 7:37 a.m. CET (6:37 UT; 1:37 a.m. EST), the sun is close to the horizon. Time And Date web site recommends that observers have free sight to the east-southeast.

Greatest eclipse takes place Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 8:50:35 UT (9:50:35 a.m. CET in Rome, Italy; 3:50:35 a.m. EST). Greatest eclipse pertains to the instant of closest passage of the axis of the lunar shadow cone to Earth’s center.

On the NASA Eclipse Web Site, retired astrophysicist Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse,” indicates that greatest eclipse occurs in northern Sweden. At the instant of greatest eclipse, the axis of the lunar shadow passes only 510 kilometers (316.89 miles) above Earth’s surface.

The penumbra’s last contact with Earth’s surface registers the eclipse’s end. Exit from the lunar penumbra occurs Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 11:00:54 UT (12:00:54 p.m. CET in Rome, Italy; 6:00:54 a.m. EST). P4 is the designator for last contact with the penumbra.

The January 2011 partial solar eclipse belongs to Saros 151. The Saros cycle recognizes families, known as series, for lunar and solar eclipses. A Saros cycle has a periodicity of approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours).

The four 2011 partial solar eclipses belong to the 21st century’s most common eclipse type. Of the century’s 224 solar eclipses, 77 are partial.

Annular eclipses rate as the century’s second most common solar eclipse. Annular eclipses account for 72 of the century’s 224 solar eclipses.

Total solar eclipses comprise the century’s third most common type of solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses contribute 68 occurrences to the century’s solar eclipse total.

Hybrid solar eclipses make the least frequent appearances of the four solar eclipse types. Hybrid solar eclipses occur only seven times in the 21st century.

The four 2011 partial solar eclipses qualify the year for elite rating as only one of six years in the 21st century featuring four solar eclipses. The century mostly experiences the annual minimum of solar eclipses, with 82 years having only two solar eclipses. Three solar eclipses per year occur in 12 years. The maximum of five solar eclipses in a calendar year does not happen in the 21st century.

The four 2011 solar eclipses share the year’s eclipse lineup with two lunar eclipses. The NASA Eclipse Web Site notes the rarity of the year’s 4:2 combination of lunar and solar eclipses. The 4:2 combination happens in only six years during the 21st century: 2011, 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094.

Occurrences in January and December frame the century’s 4:2 eclipse combination. The Tuesday, Jan. 4, partial solar eclipse initiates the 4:2 lineup for 2011. A total lunar eclipse on Saturday, Dec. 10, closes 2011’s 4:2 lineup.

Observers along the path of visibility should remember that partial solar eclipses should not be viewed directly. Safe viewing of partial solar eclipses requires proper equipment and techniques.

The takeaway for the first of four 2011 partial solar eclipses, which takes place Tuesday, Jan. 4, is the event’s favoring of northern Africa, west and central Asia, and Europe for visibility.

animation of Jan. 4, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), 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:

animation of Jan. 4, 2011, solar eclipse: A.T. Sinclair/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SE2011Jan04P.gif

For further information:

“January 4, 2011 -- Partial Solar Eclipse.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2011-january-4

“January 4, 2011 -- Partial Solar Eclipse -- Rome.” TimeAndDate > Sun & Moon > Eclipses.
Available @ https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/italy/rome?iso=20110104

Espenak, Fred. “Eclipses During 2011.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer’s Handbook.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site@ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.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

Espenak, Fred. "Partial Solar Eclipse of 2011 Jan 04." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Solar Eclipses Past and Future: Eclipses During: 2011 > Eclipses During 2011: 2011 Jan 04: Partial Solar Eclipse.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2011-Fig01.pdf

Espenak, Fred. “Table 1 -- Local Circumstances for Partial Solar Eclipse of 2011 Jan 04.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Observer’s Handbook > Observer’s Handbook Tables.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2011-Tab01.pdf

Littmann, Mark; Ken Willcox; Fred Espenak. “Observing Solar Eclipses Safely.” MrEclipse > Totality.
Available @ http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality2/TotalityCh11.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Jan. 4, 2011, Partial Solar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 151." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/jan-4-2011-partial-solar-eclipse.html