Solar eclipse of March 18, 1988


A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit between Thursday, March 17 and Friday, March 18, 1988, with a magnitude of 1.0464. 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 only 1.1 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Totality was visible in Indonesia and southern Philippines. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Northeast Asia, Australia, and Alaska.

Observation

The tourism office of the General Santos City government in the Philippines promoted it as a big tourism event. Hordes of scientists, astronomers, journalists, TV crews and tourists from all over the globe observed the totality from there. Then President of the Philippines Corazon Aquino also joined in to experience the event.

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 Contact1988 March 17 at 23:24:58.4 UTC
First Umbral External Contact1988 March 18 at 00:23:32.6 UTC
First Central Line1988 March 18 at 00:24:27.6 UTC
First Umbral Internal Contact1988 March 18 at 00:25:22.6 UTC
First Penumbral Internal Contact1988 March 18 at 01:38:59.5 UTC
Greatest Duration1988 March 18 at 01:57:26.1 UTC
Greatest Eclipse1988 March 18 at 01:58:56.4 UTC
Ecliptic Conjunction1988 March 18 at 02:03:15.6 UTC
Equatorial Conjunction1988 March 18 at 02:23:10.7 UTC
Last Penumbral Internal Contact1988 March 18 at 02:18:20.1 UTC
Last Umbral Internal Contact1988 March 18 at 03:32:16.8 UTC
Last Central Line1988 March 18 at 03:33:10.6 UTC
Last Umbral External Contact1988 March 18 at 03:34:04.3 UTC
Last Penumbral External Contact1988 March 18 at 04:32:47.6 UTC

ParameterValue
Eclipse Magnitude1.04640
Eclipse Obscuration1.09496
Gamma0.41879
Sun Right Ascension23h51m32.0s
Sun Declination-00°55'03.0"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'04.1"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension23h50m42.6s
Moon Declination-00°32'52.0"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'33.4"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax1°00'45.8"
ΔT55.9 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.
March 3
Descending node
March 18
Ascending node
Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 113		Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 139

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1988

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Solar Saros 139

Inex

Triad