Solar eclipse of March 9, 2016
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit between Tuesday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 9, 2016, with a magnitude of 1.045. 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 1.25 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Totality was visible from parts of Indonesia and Micronesia. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Southeast Asia, East Asia, Alaska, northwestern Australia, and Hawaii. If viewed from east of the International Date Line, the eclipse took place on March 8 and elsewhere on March 9.
The eclipse was clearly visible in many parts of Indonesia, including Central Sulawesi and Ternate, but obscured by clouds and smokes in Palembang, the largest city on the path of totality. The eclipse coincided with Nyepi, a public holiday in Indonesia and the end of the Balinese saka calendar. Because Nyepi is normally a day of silence, Muslims in Bali had to be given special dispensation to attend special prayer services during the eclipse.
Path of the eclipse
On March 9, 2016, a large area of the Pacific, covering Indonesia, Borneo, but also large parts of Southeast Asia and Australia, witnessed a partial solar eclipse. It was total in multiple islands of Indonesia, three atolls of the Federated States of Micronesia and the central Pacific, starting at sunrise over Sumatra and ending at sunset north of Hawaii. In the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the totality exceeded a duration of more than 4 minutes.Much of East Asia witnessed more than 50% partial eclipse.
The largest city along the path of totality was Palembang in southern Sumatra.
In order to watch the total solar eclipse, Alaska Airlines adjusted the flight plan for Flight 870. The flight passed through the umbral shadow about north of Hawaii.
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 | 2016 March 8 at 23:20:28.3 UTC |
| First Umbral External Contact | 2016 March 9 at 00:17:05.3 UTC |
| First Central Line | 2016 March 9 at 00:17:51.5 UTC |
| First Umbral Internal Contact | 2016 March 9 at 00:18:37.8 UTC |
| First Penumbral Internal Contact | 2016 March 9 at 01:18:48.1 UTC |
| Ecliptic Conjunction | 2016 March 9 at 01:55:37.5 UTC |
| Greatest Duration | 2016 March 9 at 01:57:59.8 UTC |
| Greatest Eclipse | 2016 March 9 at 01:58:19.5 UTC |
| Equatorial Conjunction | 2016 March 9 at 02:06:49.1 UTC |
| Last Penumbral Internal Contact | 2016 March 9 at 08:37:36.7 UTC |
| Last Umbral Internal Contact | 2016 March 9 at 03:37:53.0 UTC |
| Last Central Line | 2016 March 9 at 03:38:40.8 UTC |
| Last Umbral External Contact | 2016 March 9 at 03:39:28.6 UTC |
| Last Penumbral External Contact | 2016 March 9 at 04:36:03.3 UTC |
| Parameter | Value |
| Eclipse Magnitude | 1.04499 |
| Eclipse Obscuration | 1.09200 |
| Gamma | 0.26092 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 23h19m17.6s |
| Sun Declination | -04°22'46.4" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'06.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 23h18m58.7s |
| Moon Declination | -04°07'40.6" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'33.5" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'46.2" |
| ΔT | 68.1 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 9 Descending node | March 23 Ascending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 130 | Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 142 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2016
A total solar eclipse on March 9.- A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 23.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 18.
- An annular solar eclipse on September 1.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 16.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 20, 2012
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 26, 2019
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 26, 2009
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 20, 2023
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2007
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025
Tritos
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [April 8, 2005]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 6, 2027
Solar Saros 130
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 26, 1998
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 20, 2034
Inex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 1987
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 16, 2045
Triad
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 1929
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [January 8, 2103]