Solar eclipse of November 12, 1985
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Tuesday, November 12, 1985, with a magnitude of 1.0388. 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 2 hours after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger. Perigee did occur during the early portion of the eclipse.
Totality was visible only near Antarctica. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of southern South America and Antarctica.
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 | 1985 November 12 at 12:09:38.7 UTC |
| First Umbral External Contact | 1985 November 12 at 13:47:16.4 UTC |
| First Central Line | 1985 November 12 at 13:51:51.3 UTC |
| First Umbral Internal Contact | 1985 November 12 at 13:57:51.7 UTC |
| Greatest Duration | 1985 November 12 at 14:11:16.8 UTC |
| Greatest Eclipse | 1985 November 12 at 14:11:26.9 UTC |
| Ecliptic Conjunction | 1985 November 12 at 14:21:15.4 UTC |
| Equatorial Conjunction | 1985 November 12 at 14:50:17.6 UTC |
| Last Umbral Internal Contact | 1985 November 12 at 14:24:37.2 UTC |
| Last Central Line | 1985 November 12 at 14:30:37.7 UTC |
| Last Umbral External Contact | 1985 November 12 at 14:35:12.6 UTC |
| Last Penumbral External Contact | 1985 November 12 at 16:12:59.3 UTC |
| Parameter | Value |
| Eclipse Magnitude | 1.03880 |
| Eclipse Obscuration | 1.07910 |
| Gamma | −0.97948 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 15h10m46.7s |
| Sun Declination | -17°46'51.7" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'09.6" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 15h09m15.4s |
| Moon Declination | -18°42'51.3" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'44.5" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'26.6" |
| ΔT | 54.8 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.| October 28 Ascending node | November 12 Descending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 126 | Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 152 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1985
- A total lunar eclipse on May 4.
- A partial solar eclipse on May 19.
- A total lunar eclipse on October 28.
- '''A total solar eclipse on November 12.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 25, 1982
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 31, 1989
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 2, 1978
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 24, 1992
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 6, 1976
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1994
Tritos
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 13, 1974
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 12, 1996
Solar Saros 152
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 2, 1967
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 23, 2003
Inex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 2, 1956
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 23, 2014
Triad
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 11, 1899
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 12, 2072