Solar eclipse of October 12, 1939
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Thursday, October 12, 1939, with a magnitude of 1.0266. 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 1.8 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Totality was visible for a part of Antarctica. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Eastern Australia, Oceania, extreme 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 | 1939 October 12 at 18:35:06.1 UTC |
| First Umbral External Contact | 1939 October 12 at 20:14:48.5 UTC |
| First Central Line | 1939 October 12 at 20:17:38.1 UTC |
| First Umbral Internal Contact | 1939 October 12 at 20:20:50.7 UTC |
| Ecliptic Conjunction | 1939 October 12 at 20:30:28.6 UTC |
| Greatest Duration | 1939 October 12 at 20:39:46.3 UTC |
| Greatest Eclipse | 1939 October 12 at 20:40:23.4 UTC |
| Equatorial Conjunction | 1939 October 12 at 21:11:17.5 UTC |
| Last Umbral Internal Contact | 1939 October 12 at 20:59:35.3 UTC |
| Last Central Line | 1939 October 12 at 21:02:46.1 UTC |
| Last Umbral External Contact | 1939 October 12 at 21:05:33.9 UTC |
| Last Penumbral External Contact | 1939 October 12 at 22:45:29.8 UTC |
| Parameter | Value |
| Eclipse Magnitude | 1.02657 |
| Eclipse Obscuration | 1.05385 |
| Gamma | −0.97370 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 13h08m41.4s |
| Sun Declination | -07°17'47.8" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'01.7" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 13h07m33.1s |
| Moon Declination | -08°13'46.1" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'24.2" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'12.1" |
| ΔT | 24.3 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 12 Ascending node | October 28 Descending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 123 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 135 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1939
- An annular solar eclipse on April 19.
- A total lunar eclipse on May 3.A total solar eclipse on October 12.
- A partial lunar eclipse on October 28.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 25, 1935
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 1, 1943
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 31, 1932
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 23, 1946
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 7, 1930
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1948
Tritos
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 12, 1928
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 12, 1950
Solar Saros 123
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 1, 1921
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 23, 1957
Inex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 2, 1910
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 22, 1968
Triad
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 11, 1852
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 12, 2026