Solar eclipse of July 22, 1990

Solar eclipse of July 22, 1990
Partial from Finland
Map
Type of eclipse
Nature	Total
Gamma	0.7597
Magnitude	1.0391
Maximum eclipse
Duration	153 s (2 min 33 s)
Coordinates	65°12′N 168°54′E / 65.2°N 168.9°E / 65.2; 168.9
Max. width of band	201 km (125 mi)
Times (UTC)
Greatest eclipse	3:03:07
References
Saros	126 (46 of 72)
Catalog # (SE5000)	9487

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit between Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22, 1990,^[1] with a magnitude of 1.0391. 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 2.7 days after perigee (on July 19, 1990, at 12:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.^[2]

Totality was visible in southern Finland including its capital city Helsinki, the Soviet Union (including today's northern Estonia and northern Russia), and eastern Andreanof Islands and Amukta of Alaska. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Eastern Europe, North Asia, Alaska, western Canada, the western United States, and Hawaii.

In Finland, the solar eclipse occurred during sunrise and enabled observation and photography without protective glasses, which was however hampered by strong clouds.^[3] The Sun was totally eclipsed in Helsinki began at 06:03:07 local time.