solar eclipse of July 22, 2009

{{Short description|Total eclipse}}

{{Infobox solar eclipse|2009Jul22

| previous = Solar eclipse of January 26, 2009

| next = Solar eclipse of January 15, 2010

}}

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Wednesday, July 22, 2009,{{cite web|title=July 22, 2009 Total Solar Eclipse|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2009-july-22|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=11 August 2024}}{{Cite news

| url = https://newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-full-solar-eclipse/134037607/

| date = 2009-07-23

| page = 7

| title = Full solar eclipse turns the day to night in Asia

| newspaper = The Bismarck Tribune

| location =

| via = Newspapers.com

| access-date = 2023-10-25

}}{{Cite news

| url = https://newspapers.com/article/leader-telegram-celestial-awe-fear/134037615/

| date = 2009-07-23

| page = C10

| title = Celestial awe, fear

| newspaper = Leader-Telegram

| location =

| via = Newspapers.com

| access-date = 2023-10-25

}}{{Cite news

| url = https://newspapers.com/article/the-star-democrat-asia-shrouded-in-dayti/134037620/

| date = 2009-07-23

| page = 4

| title = Asia shrouded in daytime darkness in longest eclipse until 2132

| newspaper = The Star-Democrat

| location =

| via = Newspapers.com

| access-date = 2023-10-25

}} with a magnitude of 1.07991. 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 5.5 hours after perigee (on July 21, 2009, at 21:10 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.{{cite web|title=Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/distance.html?year=2009&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=11 August 2024}}

This was the longest total solar eclipse during the 21st century, with totality lasting a maximum of 6 minutes and 38.86 seconds off the coast of Southeast Asia, causing tourist interest in eastern China, Pakistan, Japan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Visibility

File:Varanasi during Total Solar Eclipse 2009.jpg]]

The total eclipse was visible from a narrow corridor through northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, the northern tip of Myanmar, central China and the Pacific Ocean, including the northern part of the Ryukyu Islands, the whole Volcano Islands except South Iwo Jima, Marshall Islands, and Kiribati.

Totality was visible in many large cities, including Dhaka and Dinajpur, and Chapai Nawabganj district in Bangladesh; Surat, Vadodara, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna, Gaya, Siliguri, Tawang and Guwahati in India; and Chengdu, Nanchong, Chongqing, Yichang, Jingzhou, Wuhan, Huanggang, Hefei, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Huzhou, Suzhou, Jiaxing, Ningbo, Shanghai as well as over the Three Gorges Dam in China. However, in Shanghai, the largest city in the eclipse's path, the view was obscured by heavy clouds.99.56% totality was observed in Kamat Maath, Binodpur, Chapai Nawabgan, the western part of Bangladesh.
In Sichuan province, China, 150 km southwest of Chengdu many people ascended Mount Emei to view the eclipse. While viewing conditions were not ideal due to thick cloud cover, typical of this region and altitude, the effects were reported as impressive. The summit of Mt. Emei contains numerous Buddhist temples and statues, as well as a large candle and incense lighting ceremony/area. During the eclipse day turned to night, leaving only the candles to cast a unique lighting on the adjacent Buddhist statues and buildings.

{{cite web|url=http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2009Jul22Tgoogle.html |title=NASA – Total Solar Eclipse of 2009 July 22 |publisher=NASA.gov |access-date=2009-07-22}}[http://www.weather.com.cn/static/html/topic_09rqs.shtml Weather conditions for cities in China during the July 22 eclipse] {{in lang|zh}} According to NASA, the Japanese island Kitaio Jima was predicted to have the best viewing conditions{{cite web|url=http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009fig/TSE2009-fig16.pdf|title=NASA Map}}{{cite web|last=Espenak |first=Fred |url=http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEpubs/20090722/TP214169a.pdf|title=Total Solar Eclipse of July 2009}} featuring both longer viewing time (being the closest point of land to the point of greatest eclipse) and lower cloud cover statistics than all of continental Asia.

Most of the path of totality was west of the 180th meridian, with only Nikumaroro in Kiribati east of it. However, time zone of the Phoenix Islands including Nikumaroro was changed from UTC−11 to UTC+13 in 1995, so total eclipse visible from land was completely on July 22.

A partial eclipse was seen within the broad path of the Moon's penumbra, including most of Southeast Asia (all of Pakistan, India and China), East Asia, northern Oceania, and Hawaii. Most of these areas are west of the 180th meridian, seeing the eclipse on July 22, while a part of islands in the Pacific are east of the 180th meridian, seeing the eclipse on July 21.

The eclipse, and the reaction of thousands of observers at Varanasi was captured by the Science Channel Wonders of the Universe series hosted by Brian Cox.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOvWioz4PoQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/eOvWioz4PoQ |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=The Solar Eclipse In Varanasi - Wonders of the Solar System - Series 1 Episode 1 Preview - BBC Two|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

This eclipse may be the most-viewed total solar eclipse in history, with 30 million people in Shanghai and Hangzhou alone.{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090720-solar-eclipse-july-22-missions.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723082816/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090720-solar-eclipse-july-22-missions.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2009|title=Solar Eclipse on July 22 May Be Most Viewed Ever|work=nationalgeographic.com}}

Observations

File:22Jul09 eclipse Varanasi.jpg for the eclipse in Varanasi, India.]]

Thousands of pilgrims gathered on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India to experience the eclipse as a religious or spiritual event. Some people expected that there would be a relationship, either positive or negative, between their health and the occurrence of the eclipse.{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-07/23/content_8462919.htm |title=Indians enthralled by solar eclipse |publisher=Chinadaily.com.cn |date=2009-07-22 |access-date=2009-07-22}}

Indian scientists observed the solar eclipse from an Indian Air Force plane.{{cite web|url=http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23956&Itemid=62 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728034133/http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23956&Itemid=62 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 28, 2009 |title=Khabrein.info |publisher=Khabrein.info |access-date=2009-07-22}}

The Chinese government used the opportunity to provide scientific education and to dispel any superstition. A flight by China Eastern Airlines from Wuhan to Shanghai took a slight detour and followed the course of the eclipse to allow longer observation time for the scientists on board.

Observers in Japan were excited by the prospect of experiencing the first eclipse in 46 years, but found the experience dampened by cloudy skies obscuring the view.

In Bangladesh, where the eclipse lasted approximately 3 minutes and 44 seconds, thousands of people were able to witness the eclipse despite rain and overcast skies.

Duration

File:Moonsize.jpg of the full moon (near apogee) to the nearly new moon (visible by earthshine) on the day before the solar eclipse near lunar perigee.]]

This solar eclipse was the longest total solar eclipse to occur in the 21st century, and will not be surpassed in duration until 13 June 2132 (Saros 139, ascending node) which will last for 6 minutes and 55 seconds. Totality lasted for up to 6 minutes and 38.86 seconds (0.14 seconds shorter than 6 minutes and 39 seconds), with the maximum eclipse occurring in the ocean at 02:35:21 UTC about 100 km south of the Bonin Islands, southeast of Japan. The uninhabited North Iwo Jima island was the landmass with totality time closest to maximum, while the closest inhabited point was Akusekijima, where the eclipse lasted 6 minutes and 26 seconds.{{cite web |url=http://totaleclipse.jp/island/index.html |title=Island « Total Eclipse.Jp |publisher=Totaleclipse.jp |access-date=2009-07-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418211346/http://totaleclipse.jp/island/index.html |archive-date=2009-04-18 }}

The cruise ship Costa Classica was chartered specifically to view this eclipse and by viewing the eclipse at the point of maximum duration and cruising along the centerline during the event, duration was extended to 6 minutes, 42 seconds.

The eclipse was part of Saros series 136, descending node, as was the solar eclipse of July 11, 1991, which was slightly longer, lasting up to 6 minutes 53.08 seconds (previous eclipses of the same saros series on June 30, 1973, and June 20, 1955, were longer, lasting 7 min 03.55 and 7 min 07.74, respectively). The next event from this series will be on August 2, 2027 (6 minutes and 22.64 seconds).{{cite web |url=http://www.tierrayestrellas.com/skylook/eclipses/futuro/020827i.htm |title=August 2, 2027 Total Solar Eclipse |publisher=Tierrayestrellas.com |access-date=2009-07-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725171849/http://www.tierrayestrellas.com/skylook/eclipses/futuro/020827i.htm |archive-date=July 25, 2009 }} The exceptional duration was a result of the Moon being near perigee, with the apparent diameter of the Moon 7.991% larger than the Sun (magnitude 1.07991) and the Earth being near aphelion{{Cite APOD|title=Perihelion and Aphelion |date=3 July 2009 |access-date=2009-07-22}} where the Sun appeared slightly smaller.

In contrast the annular solar eclipse of January 26, 2009 (Saros 131, ascending node) occurred 3.3 days after lunar apogee and 7.175% smaller apparent diameter to the sun. And the next solar eclipse of January 15, 2010 (Saros 141, ascending node) was also annular, 1.8 days before lunar apogee, with the Moon 8.097% smaller than the Sun.

=Totality=

Image:Total solar eclipse on 22nd July at Varanasi,India.jpg|Totality from Varanasi, India

Image:Solar eclipse diamond ring 22 July 2009 taken by Lutfar Rahman Nirjhar from Bangladesh.jpg|Diamond ring effect in Kurigram District, Bangladesh

Image:Total ecplise of the sun from Panchaghar bangladesh Muntasir mamun imran.JPG|Totality from Panchagarh District, Bangladesh

File:Partial eclipse in Panchagahr Bangladesh through Xray Film.jpg Panchagarh District, Bangladesh

Image:Solar Eclipse 22 July 2009 taken by Ugyen Dorji from Bhutan.jpg|Totality from Thimphu, Bhutan

Image:在北碚拍摄的贝利珠.jpg|Diamond ring effect in Chongqing, China

Image:Solar eclipse of 2009 July 22 near Hangzhou.jpg|Totality from Hangzhou, China

Image:TOTAL ECLIPSE 20090722 WUZHEN CHINA.jpg|Totality from Wuzhen, China

Image:Kubotake - Diamond ring on 22 Jul. 2009 (by).jpg|Diamond ring effect in Kikaijima, Japan

=Partial=

Image:Solar Eclipse New Delhi ICGEB.jpg|Partial from New Delhi, India

Image:Partial eclipse Kolkata 22July.jpg|Partial from Kolkata, India

Image:Partial solar eclipseat IIT KGP.JPG|Partial from Kharagpur, India

Image:Solar eclipse 2009 07 22 wuhan china.png|Eclipse progression from Wuhan, China

Image:Sun eclipse 2009-07-22 Beijing.jpg|Partial from Beijing, China

Image:Solar eclipse 22 July 2009 taken by Yichen Wang from Tianjin.jpg|Partial from Tianjin, China

Image:Partial solar eclipse over Sheung Shui 2.JPG|Partial from Sheung Shui, Hong Kong

Image:07222009 solar eclipse manila rp.JPG|Partial from Quezon City, Philippines

Image:20090722 1004h Partial Eclipse (Makati City, Philippines).jpg|Partial from Makati City, Philippines

Image:Solar partial eclipse of July 22, 2009 in Taichung ,of Taiwan.jpg|Partial from Taichung, Taiwan

Image:Solar Eclipse July 22 2009 Incheon 104513KST.jpg|Partial from Incheon, South Korea

Image:Partial Solar eclipse Miyazaki 2009.jpg|Partial from Miyazaki City, Japan

Image:Eclipse 7-21-09 (1).jpg|Partial from Honolulu, HI

View from space

File:SE2009Jul22T.gif

The Terrain Mapping Camera in the Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission was used to image the earth during the eclipse.{{cite web|url=http://isro.org/chandrayaan1.htm |title=Chandrayaan-1 |publisher=ISRO |access-date=2009-07-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217103722/http://isro.org/chandrayaan1.htm |archive-date=February 17, 2009 }}

It was also observed by the Japanese geostationary satellite MTSAT:{{cite web|url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=39520|title=Eclipse Shadows Southeastern China : Image of the Day|work=nasa.gov|date=23 July 2009 }}

class=wikitable align=center width=600
valign=top

|
12:30 UT (pre-eclipse)

|
1:30 UT

|240px
Close up at 1:30 UT

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.{{cite web|title=Total Solar Eclipse of 2009 Jul 22|url=https://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2009Jul22Tprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=11 August 2024}}

class="wikitable" align="{{{align|left}}}" style="margin:{{#ifeq:{{{align}}}|left|0 0 0.5em 1em|0 1em 0.5em 0}}"

|+July 22, 2009 Solar Eclipse Times

! Event

! Time (UTC)

First Penumbral External Contact

| 2009 July 21 at 23:59:22.1 UTC

First Umbral External Contact

| 2009 July 22 at 00:52:20.3 UTC

First Central Line

| 2009 July 22 at 00:53:57.4 UTC

First Umbral Internal Contact

| 2009 July 22 at 00:55:34.5 UTC

First Penumbral Internal Contact

| 2009 July 22 at 01:48:45.6 UTC

Greatest Duration

| 2009 July 22 at 02:30:22.6 UTC

Equatorial Conjunction

| 2009 July 22 at 02:34:07.5 UTC

Ecliptic Conjunction

| 2009 July 22 at 02:35:42.1 UTC

Greatest Eclipse

| 2009 July 22 at 02:36:24.6 UTC

Last Penumbral Internal Contact

| 2009 July 22 at 03:24:06.5 UTC

Last Umbral Internal Contact

| 2009 July 22 at 04:17:16.6 UTC

Last Central Line

| 2009 July 22 at 04:18:53.3 UTC

Last Umbral External Contact

| 2009 July 22 at 04:20:30.0 UTC

Last Penumbral External Contact

| 2009 July 22 at 05:13:28.7 UTC

class="wikitable" align="{{{align|right}}}" style="margin:{{#ifeq:{{{align}}}|right|0 0 0.5em 1em|0 1em 0.5em 0}}"

|+July 22, 2009 Solar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Eclipse Magnitude

| 1.07991

Eclipse Obscuration

| 1.16620

Gamma

| 0.06977

Sun Right Ascension

| 08h06m24.1s

Sun Declination

| +20°16'03.0"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 15'44.5"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.7"

Moon Right Ascension

| 08h06m29.6s

Moon Declination

| +20°20'07.0"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 16'42.7"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 1°01'19.8"

ΔT

| 65.9 s

{{clear}}

Eclipse season

{{See also|Eclipse cycle}}

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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.{{cite web|author=(AFP) – 6 days ago |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ihVF0P6egD6R8AyynWO_Rm8ZZjKQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727014548/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ihVF0P6egD6R8AyynWO_Rm8ZZjKQ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 27, 2009 |title=AFP: Solar eclipse sparks tourism fever in China |access-date=2009-07-22}}{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/19/content_11402627.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521173957/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-05/19/content_11402627.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-05-21 |title=Scientists: China the best place to observe longest solar eclipse in 2,000 years_English_Xinhua |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |date=2009-07-22 |access-date=2009-07-22 |last=Wang |first=Hongjiang }}{{cite web|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090717/860/ttc-indian-students-on-solar-eclipse-ody.html |title=Indian students on solar eclipse 'odyssey' to China – Yahoo! India News |publisher=In.news.yahoo.com |access-date=2009-07-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729071808/http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090717/860/ttc-indian-students-on-solar-eclipse-ody.html |archive-date=2009-07-29 }}

class="wikitable"

|+ Eclipse season of July–August 2009

! July 7
Ascending node (full moon)
!! July 22
Descending node (new moon)
!! August 6
Ascending node (full moon)

200px200px200px
align=center

| Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 110

Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 136
Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 148

Related eclipses

= Eclipses in 2009 =

= Metonic =

= Tzolkinex =

= Half-Saros =

= Tritos =

= Solar Saros 136 =

= Inex =

= Triad =

= Solar eclipses of 2008–2011 =

{{Solar eclipse set 2008–2011}}

= Saros 136 =

{{Solar Saros series 136}}

= Metonic series =

{{Solar Metonic series 1971–2047}}

= Tritos series =

{{Solar Tritos series 2009 July 22}}

= Inex series =

{{Solar Inex series 2009 July 22}}

Notes

{{reflist}}

References

  • [http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009.html NASA homepage for July 22, 2009 total solar eclipse]
  • [http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2009Jul22Tgoogle.html Interactive map of the eclipse from NASA]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20100226223155/http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~jander/tot2009/tse09intro.htm Jay Anderson, Weather and Maps for the Total Solar Eclipse 2009 July 22 00:54 – 04:12 UT]

Pre-eclipse news:

  • [http://jaibihar.com/solar-eclipse-of-july-22-2009-time-place/10465/ Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009: Time & Place in Indian cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724110753/http://jaibihar.com/solar-eclipse-of-july-22-2009-time-place/10465/ |date=July 24, 2009 }}
  • [http://palscience.com/2009/07/21/the-longest-eclipse-of-the-21st-century-time-july-22-2009/ The Longest eclipse of the 21st century time – July 22, 2009]
  • [http://www.fi.upm.es/?id=tablon&acciongt=consulta1&idet=269 The 21st century’s longest total solar eclipse to be Internet broadcast worldwide]
  • [http://www.techdreams.org/general/how-to-watch-july-22-2009-total-solar-eclipse-live-webcast/3007-20090712 How To Watch July 22, 2009 Total Solar Eclipse Live On Web]
  • [http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2009/07/the-longest-solar-eclipse-of-t.html City of Brass at Beliefnet.com: The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century]
  • [http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/dpgo_Solar_Eclipse_Could_Create_Chaos_mb_07202009_2688064 Solar Eclipse Could Create Chaos] AP
  • [http://www.ustream.tv/channel/solar-eclipse-live-from-guwahati Watch Solar eclipse live from Guwahati] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723195631/http://www.ustream.tv/channel/solar-eclipse-live-from-guwahati |date=2009-07-23 }}
  • [https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17481-july-eclipse-is-best-chance-to-look-for-gravity-anomaly.html July eclipse is best chance to look for gravity anomaly] New Scientist
  • [http://jaibihar.com/solar-eclipse-all-roads-lead-to-taregana-in-bihar/10306/ Solar eclipse: All roads lead to Bihar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721045048/http://jaibihar.com/solar-eclipse-all-roads-lead-to-taregana-in-bihar/10306/ |date=2009-07-21 }}

Photos:

  • [http://spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_22jul09.htm Spaceweather.com gallery]
  • [http://www.williams.edu/Astronomy/eclipse/eclipse2009/2009total/index.html Total Solar Eclipse, July 22, 2009], from China by Jay Pasachoff
  • [http://www.zam.fme.vutbr.cz/~druck/Eclipse/Ecl2009e/0-info.htm Enewetak, Marshall Islands. Prof. Druckmüller's eclipse photography site]
  • [http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/archives/3020/ MTSAT-1R visible satellite imagery of the solar eclipse shadow (CIMSS Satellite Blog)]
  • [http://www.krysstal.com/ec2009.html The 2009 Eclipse in China]
  • {{APOD |date=24 July 2009 |title=Eclipse over Chongqing, China}}
  • [http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090808.html August 8, 2009, Diamonds in a Cloudy Sky, totality in clouds from Wuhan, China] APOD