Solar eclipse of January 4, 2011
A partial solar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, with a magnitude of 0.8576. 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 partial solar eclipse occurs in the polar regions of the Earth when the center of the Moon's shadow misses the Earth.
This was the first of four partial solar eclipses in 2011, with the others occurring on June 1, 2011|June 1], July 1, 2011|July 1], and November 25, 2011|November 25].
The greatest eclipse occurred at 08:51 UTC in northern Sweden. At that time, the axis of the Moon's shadow passed a mere 510 km above Earth's surface.
The eclipse was visible near sunrise over most of Europe before moving over central Asia. It ended at sunset over east Asia. It was visible as a minor partial eclipse over north Africa and the Middle East.
Images
Animated pathEclipse timing
Places experiencing partial eclipse
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 | 2011 January 4 at 06:41:18.7 UTC |
| Greatest Eclipse | 2011 January 4 at 08:51:42.4 UTC |
| Ecliptic Conjunction | 2011 January 4 at 09:03:43.1 UTC |
| Equatorial Conjunction | 2011 January 4 at 09:16:20.6 UTC |
| Last Penumbral External Contact | 2011 January 4 at 11:02:01.4 UTC |
| Parameter | Value |
| Eclipse Magnitude | 0.85759 |
| Eclipse Obscuration | 0.79839 |
| Gamma | 1.06265 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 18h59m14.9s |
| Sun Declination | -22°44'21.1" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'15.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 18h58m23.8s |
| Moon Declination | -21°46'01.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'18.1" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°56'09.6" |
| ΔT | 66.3 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.| December 21 Descending node | January 4 Ascending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 125 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 151 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2011
- A partial solar eclipse on January 4.
- A partial solar eclipse on June 1.
- A total lunar eclipse on June 15.
- A partial solar eclipse on July 1.
- A partial solar eclipse on November 25.
- A total lunar eclipse on December 10.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [March 19, 2007]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 23, 2014
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 23, 2003
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [February 15, 2018]
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 30, 2001
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 10, 2020
Tritos
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 5, 2000
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 4, 2021
Solar Saros 151
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 24, 1992
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [January 14, 2029]
Inex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [January 25, 1982]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [December 15, 2039]
Triad
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 5, 1924
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 4, 2097
Solar eclipses of 2008–2011