Solar eclipse of March 4, 1802
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Thursday, March 4, 1802, with a magnitude of 1.0428. 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 day after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
The path of totality was visible from parts of modern-day Antarctica, Australia, and Vanuatu. A partial solar eclipse was also visible for parts of Antarctica, Australia, Indonesia, and Oceania.
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 | 1802 March 4 at 02:52:19.8 UTC |
| First Umbral External Contact | 1802 March 4 at 03:59:05.4 UTC |
| First Central Line | 1802 March 4 at 04:00:14.2 UTC |
| First Umbral Internal Contact | 1802 March 4 at 04:01:23.4 UTC |
| Equatorial Conjunction | 1802 March 4 at 04:35:58.0 UTC |
| Ecliptic Conjunction | 1802 March 4 at 05:07:25.2 UTC |
| Greatest Duration | 1802 March 4 at 05:12:48.7 UTC |
| Greatest Eclipse | 1802 March 4 at 05:14:28.9 UTC |
| Last Umbral Internal Contact | 1802 March 4 at 06:27:59.7 UTC |
| Last Central Line | 1802 March 4 at 06:29:07.6 UTC |
| Last Umbral External Contact | 1802 March 4 at 06:30:14.9 UTC |
| Last Penumbral External Contact | 1802 March 4 at 07:36:55.8 UTC |
| Parameter | Value |
| Eclipse Magnitude | 1.04283 |
| Eclipse Obscuration | 1.08750 |
| Gamma | −0.69423 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 22h57m10.9s |
| Sun Declination | -06°42'08.1" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'07.1" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 22h58m31.2s |
| Moon Declination | -07°19'20.7" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'36.4" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'56.8" |
| ΔT | 12.7 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 4 Ascending node | March 19 Descending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 117 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 129 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1802
A total solar eclipse on March 4.- A partial lunar eclipse on March 19.
- An annular solar eclipse on August 28.
- A partial lunar eclipse on September 11.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 15, 1798
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 21, 1805
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 21, 1795
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 14, 1809
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 25, 1793
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 10, 1811
Tritos
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 3, 1791
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 1, 1813
Solar Saros 117
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 20, 1784
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 14, 1820
Inex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 23, 1773
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 12, 1831
Triad
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 3, 1715
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of January 1, 1889