Solar eclipse of January 22, 1898


A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Saturday, January 22, 1898. 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 1.8 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
The path of totality was visible from parts of the Royal Niger Company, Kamerun, Upper Ubanghi, British East Africa, Abyssinia, Italian Somaliland, Hindustan, Nepal, and the Chinese Empire. A partial solar eclipse was also visible for much of Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Observations

There were two organised expeditions to India to observe this eclipse. One was from the British Astronomical Association and the other was led by K D Naegamvala of the Maharaja Taihtasingji Observatory.

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 Contact1898 January 22 at 04:45:48.1 UTC
First Umbral External Contact1898 January 22 at 05:48:14.1 UTC
First Central Line1898 January 22 at 05:48:33.2 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact1898 January 22 at 05:48:52.2 UTC
Greatest Duration1898 January 22 at 07:14:10.5 UTC
Greatest Eclipse1898 January 22 at 07:19:11.8 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction1898 January 22 at 07:24:30.5 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction1898 January 22 at 07:37:20.4 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact1898 January 22 at 08:49:22.0 UTC
Last Central Line1898 January 22 at 08:49:39.2 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact1898 January 22 at 08:49:56.3 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact1898 January 22 at 09:52:32.1 UTC

ParameterValue
Eclipse Magnitude1.02440
Eclipse Obscuration1.04940
Gamma0.50791
Sun Right Ascension20h18m29.6s
Sun Declination-19°38'50.6"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'14.8"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension20h17m48.1s
Moon Declination-19°09'57.2"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'24.3"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax1°00'12.5"
ΔT-4.9 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.
January 8
Descending node
January 22
Ascending node
Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 113		Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 139

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1898

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

  • Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 17, 1889
  • Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 29, 1907

Tritos

Solar Saros 139

Inex

Triad

Solar eclipses of 1895–1899

The partial solar eclipses on March 26, 1895 and September 18, 1895 occur in the previous lunar year eclipse set, and the partial solar eclipse on December 13, 1898 occurs in the next lunar year eclipse set.