Solar eclipse of April 16, 1874
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Thursday, April 16, 1874, with a magnitude of 1.0569. 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 16 hours after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
The path of totality was visible from parts of modern-day southern Namibia, South Africa, and Lesotho. A partial solar eclipse was also visible for parts of southern South America, Antarctica, Southern Africa, and Central Africa.
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.| Event | Time |
| First Penumbral External Contact | 1874 April 16 at 11:48:36.3 UTC |
| First Umbral External Contact | 1874 April 16 at 13:02:40.7 UTC |
| First Central Line | 1874 April 16 at 13:04:57.8 UTC |
| First Umbral Internal Contact | 1874 April 16 at 13:07:19.0 UTC |
| Equatorial Conjunction | 1874 April 16 at 13:17:18.5 UTC |
| Ecliptic Conjunction | 1874 April 16 at 13:52:28.7 UTC |
| Greatest Eclipse | 1874 April 16 at 14:00:52.7 UTC |
| Greatest Duration | 1874 April 16 at 14:01:57.1 UTC |
| Last Umbral Internal Contact | 1874 April 16 at 14:54:54.7 UTC |
| Last Central Line | 1874 April 16 at 14:57:14.8 UTC |
| Last Umbral External Contact | 1874 April 16 at 14:59:30.9 UTC |
| Last Penumbral External Contact | 1874 April 16 at 16:13:28.2 UTC |
| Parameter | Value |
| Eclipse Magnitude | 1.05692 |
| Eclipse Obscuration | 1.11707 |
| Gamma | −0.83637 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 01h37m54.7s |
| Sun Declination | +10°11'33.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'55.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 01h39m28.1s |
| Moon Declination | +09°25'57.8" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'40.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'12.9" |
| ΔT | -2.8 s |
Eclipse season
This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months 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.| April 16, 1874 Ascending node | May 1 Descending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 117 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 129 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1874
A total solar eclipse on April 16.- A partial lunar eclipse on May 1.
- An annular solar eclipse on October 10.
- A total lunar eclipse on October 25.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of June 28, 1870
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 2, 1878
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 6, 1867
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 27, 1881
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 11, 1865
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 22, 1883
Tritos
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 17, 1863
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 16, 1885
Solar Saros 117
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 5, 1856
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 26, 1892
Inex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 6, 1845
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 1903
Triad
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of June 15, 1787
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 15, 1961