| Solar eclipse of February 16, 1980 | |
|---|---|
 Map | |
| Type of eclipse | |
| Nature | Total |
| Gamma | 0.2224 |
| Magnitude | 1.0434 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 248 s (4 min 8 s) |
| Coordinates | 0°06′S 47°06′E / 0.1°S 47.1°E |
| Max. width of band | 149 km (93 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| Greatest eclipse | 8:54:01 |
| References | |
| Saros | 130 (50 of 73) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9464 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Saturday, February 16, 1980,[1] with a magnitude of 1.0434. 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 only about 24 hours before perigee (on February 17, 1980, at 8:50 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]
The path of totality crossed parts of Angola, Zaire, Tanzania, Kenya, southern India, Bangladesh, Burma, and China at sunset. The southern part of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, also lay in the path of totality. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Africa, West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
- ^ "February 16, 1980 Total Solar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 8 August 2024.