Wikipedia / Solar eclipse of March 9, 2016
Wikipedia / 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 (on March 10, 2016, at 7:00 UTC), 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 (for instance from Hawaii), the eclipse took place on March 8 (Tuesday) (local time) and elsewhere on March 9 (Wednesday).
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 (Eauripik, Woleai and Ifalik) 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 ( from Jakarta and from Singapore).
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.
Maps
Eclipse timing
Places experiencing total eclipse
Places experiencing partial eclipse
Gallery
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.
Eclipse season
This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) 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.
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2016
A total solar eclipse on March 9.
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
Solar eclipses of 2015–2018
Saros 130
Metonic series
Tritos series
Inex series
Notes
References
External links
F. Espenak, J. Meeus: Five Millennium Catalog of Solar eclipses, NASA/TP-2009-213174
Interactive map of the eclipse with local circumstances and diagram
EU project Stars4All: Eclipse online broadcast from Palu (Indonesia)
High-resolution animation of eclipse shadow by Seán Doran from JAXA's Himawari imagery