Solar eclipse of July 31, 1981

Solar eclipse of July 31, 1981
Map
Type of eclipse
NatureTotal
Gamma0.5792
Magnitude1.0258
Maximum eclipse
Duration122 s (2 min 2 s)
Coordinates53°18′N 134°06′E / 53.3°N 134.1°E / 53.3; 134.1
Max. width of band108 km (67 mi)
Times (UTC)
Greatest eclipse3:46:37
References
Saros145 (20 of 77)
Catalog # (SE5000)9467

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Friday, July 31, 1981,[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] with a magnitude of 1.0258. 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 3.7 days after perigee (on July 27, 1981, at 10:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[16]

The moon's apparent diameter was 7 arcseconds larger than the February 4, 1981 annular solar eclipse.

The continental path of totality fell entirely within the Soviet Union, belonging to Georgia, Kazakhstan and Russia today. The southern part of Mount Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, also lay in the path of totality. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Northern Europe, Asia, Alaska, western Canada, and Greenland. The eclipse was mostly seen on July 31, 1981, except for Alaska, northwestern Canada and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where a partial eclipse was seen on July 30 local time, and northern Greenland, where a partial eclipse started on July 30, passing midnight and ended on July 31 due to the midnight sun.

  1. ^ "July 31, 1981 Total Solar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Spokane Chronicle 1981-07-31 p3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Abilene Reporter News 1981-07-31 p16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Daily Advertiser 1981-07-31 p6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Beatrice Daily Sun 1981-07-31 p3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Springfield Leader and Press 1981-07-31 p17 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Kokomo Tribune 1981-07-31 p13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Liverpool Echo 1981-07-31 p1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Manchester Evening News 1981-07-31 p1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Calgary Herald 1981-07-31 p14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference North Bay Nugget 1981-07-31 p2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Edmonton Journal 1981-07-31 p48 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Standard Speaker 1981-08-01 p5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Tulsa World 1981-08-01 p32 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arizona Daily Star 1981-08-01 p2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 9 August 2024.