| Solar eclipse of June 21, 2001 | |
|---|---|
 Totality from Lusaka, Zambia by the Williams College eclipse expedition | |
 Map | |
| Type of eclipse | |
| Nature | Total |
| Gamma | −0.5701 |
| Magnitude | 1.0495 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 297 s (4 min 57 s) |
| Coordinates | 11°18′S 2°42′E / 11.3°S 2.7°E |
| Max. width of band | 200 km (120 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| (P1) Partial begin | 9:33:04 |
| (U1) Total begin | 10:35:59 |
| Greatest eclipse | 12:04:46 |
| (U4) Total end | 13:31:37 |
| (P4) Partial end | 14:35:25 |
| References | |
| Saros | 127 (57 of 82) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9511 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Thursday, June 21, 2001,[1] with a magnitude of 1.0495. It was the first solar eclipse of the 21st century. 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 2.25 days before perigee (on June 23, 2001, at 18:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]
Many people traveled to Africa to watch the eclipse;[3][4][5] the Daily Telegraph reported that "while some tribesmen watch a celestial crocodile eating the sun, the modern African will be counting the cash brought in by thousands of visitors".[6]
- ^ "June 21, 2001 Total Solar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Thousands gather in Zambia for total solar eclipse". The News and Advance. 2001-06-21. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-10-25 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Solar eclipse: Day declared national holiday as thousands come to Zambia". Hickory Daily Record. 2001-06-22. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-10-25 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "First total eclipse of new millennium sweeps across Africa". Arizona Daily Sun. 2001-06-22. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-10-25 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tradition and tourism flourish in solar eclipse". The Daily Telegraph. 2001-06-21. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-10-25 – via Newspapers.com.