Solar eclipse of September 8, 1885
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, September 8, 1885, with a magnitude of 1.0332. 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 2.3 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
The path of totality was visible from parts of modern-day New Zealand and Antarctica. A partial solar eclipse was also visible for parts of Oceania, Antarctica, and southern South America.
Observations
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 | 1885 September 8 at 18:35:56.3 UTC |
| First Umbral External Contact | 1885 September 8 at 19:54:54.3 UTC |
| First Central Line | 1885 September 8 at 19:56:11.9 UTC |
| First Umbral Internal Contact | 1885 September 8 at 19:57:30.8 UTC |
| Ecliptic Conjunction | 1885 September 8 at 20:43:07.3 UTC |
| Greatest Duration | 1885 September 8 at 20:50:23.2 UTC |
| Greatest Eclipse | 1885 September 8 at 20:51:51.9 UTC |
| Equatorial Conjunction | 1885 September 8 at 21:19:51.3 UTC |
| Last Umbral Internal Contact | 1885 September 8 at 21:45:54.9 UTC |
| Last Central Line | 1885 September 8 at 21:47:11.6 UTC |
| Last Umbral External Contact | 1885 September 8 at 21:48:27.1 UTC |
| Last Penumbral External Contact | 1885 September 8 at 23:07:38.7 UTC |
| Parameter | Value |
| Eclipse Magnitude | 1.03319 |
| Eclipse Obscuration | 1.06749 |
| Gamma | −0.84889 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 11h09m38.6s |
| Sun Declination | +05°24'05.1" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'53.2" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 11h08m38.3s |
| Moon Declination | +04°35'47.3" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'16.5" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°59'43.9" |
| ΔT | -5.8 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.| September 8 Ascending node | September 24 Descending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 123 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 135 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1885
- An annular solar eclipse on March 16.
- A partial lunar eclipse on March 30.
- A total solar eclipse on September 8.
- A partial lunar eclipse on September 24.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [November 21, 1881]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of June 28, 1889
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [July 29, 1878]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 20, 1892
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 3, 1876
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 15, 1894
Tritos
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [October 10, 1874]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [August 9, 1896]
Solar Saros 123
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 29, 1867
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 21, 1903
Inex
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [September 29, 1856]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [August 21, 1914]
Triad
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 8, 1798
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [July 10, 1972]
Solar eclipses of 1884–1888