Solar eclipse of July 2, 2019


A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, with a magnitude of 1.0459. 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 2.4 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Totality was visible from the southern Pacific Ocean east of New Zealand to the Pitcairn Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago and finally reaching the Coquimbo Region in Chile and central Argentina near sunset, with the maximum of 4 minutes 33 seconds visible from the Pacific Ocean. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of eastern Oceania, South America, and southern Central America. A total solar eclipse crossed a similar region of the Earth about a year and a half later on December 14, 2020.

Visibility

Following the North American solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, Astronomers Without Borders collected eclipse glasses for redistribution to Latin America and Asia for the 2019 eclipses.
Totality travelled over areas with low levels of humidity and light pollution, allowing for very good observations. Several major observatories experienced totality, including the European Southern Observatory.

Oeno Island

The first land surface and the only Pacific island from which totality was visible is Oeno Island, an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Islands.

Chile

Totality was visible in a large portion of Coquimbo Region and small parts of Atacama Region. Cities in the path included La Serena and La Higuera. Approximately 300,000 people visited La Serena to view the event. Tickets to view the eclipse from the European Southern Observatory were sold for US$2000 each.

Argentina

Totality was visible in the provinces of San Juan, La Rioja, San Luis, Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Buenos Aires. Cities in the path included San Juan and Río Cuarto. The path of totality finished at the Samborombon Bay, where the eclipsed sunset was observed from San Clemente del Tuyu.

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 Contact2019 July 2 at 16:56:22.9 UTC
First Umbral External Contact2019 July 2 at 18:02:19.5 UTC
First Central Line2019 July 2 at 18:03:29.5 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact2019 July 2 at 18:04:39.8 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction2019 July 2 at 19:17:21.9 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction2019 July 2 at 19:22:51.0 UTC
Greatest Eclipse2019 July 2 at 19:24:07.5 UTC
Greatest Duration2019 July 2 at 19:25:18.8 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact2019 July 2 at 20:43:33.5 UTC
Last Central Line2019 July 2 at 20:44:46.0 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact2019 July 2 at 20:45:58.2 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact2019 July 2 at 21:51:48.1 UTC

ParameterValue
Eclipse Magnitude1.04593
Eclipse Obscuration1.09398
Gamma−0.64656
Sun Right Ascension06h46m14.8s
Sun Declination+23°00'36.4"
Sun Semi-Diameter15'43.8"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.6"
Moon Right Ascension06h46m17.9s
Moon Declination+22°22'09.2"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'14.9"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°59'37.8"
ΔT69.6 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.
July 2
Ascending node
July 16
Descending node
Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 127		Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 139

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2019

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Solar Saros 127

Inex

Triad