Solar eclipse of December 4, 2021


A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Saturday, December 4, 2021, with a magnitude of 1.0367. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's and the apparent path of the Sun and Moon intersect, blocking all direct sunlight and turning daylight into darkness; the Sun appears to be black with a halo around it. 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 2.5 hours before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This eclipse was unusual as the path of the total eclipse moved from east to west across West Antarctica, while most eclipse paths move from west to east. This reversal is only possible in polar regions. Its path across Antarctica crossed near Berkner Island, traversed an arc over the continent and passed over Shepard Island. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Southern Africa, Antarctica, and Tasmania.

Images


Animated path

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.
EventTime
First Penumbral External Contact2021 December 4 at 05:30:26.5 UTC
First Umbral External Contact2021 December 4 at 07:01:16.7 UTC
First Central Line2021 December 4 at 07:04:03.2 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact2021 December 4 at 07:07:04.8 UTC
Greatest Eclipse2021 December 4 at 07:34:37.9 UTC
Greatest Duration2021 December 4 at 07:34:40.1 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction2021 December 4 at 07:44:11.1 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction2021 December 4 at 07:57:20.3 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact2021 December 4 at 08:01:55.8 UTC
Last Central Line2021 December 4 at 08:04:57.6 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact2021 December 4 at 08:07:44.3 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact2021 December 4 at 09:38:39.3 UTC

ParameterValue
Eclipse Magnitude1.03673
Eclipse Obscuration1.07481
Gamma−0.95261
Sun Right Ascension16h43m32.4s
Sun Declination-22°16'29.4"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'13.6"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension16h42m35.0s
Moon Declination-23°13'22.3"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'44.7"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax1°01'27.3"
ΔT70.6 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.
November 19
Ascending node
December 4
Descending node
Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 126		Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 152

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2021

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Solar Saros 152

Inex

Triad