| Solar eclipse of May 29, 1938 | |
|---|---|
 Map | |
| Type of eclipse | |
| Nature | Total |
| Gamma | −0.9607 |
| Magnitude | 1.0552 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 245 s (4 min 5 s) |
| Coordinates | 52°42′S 22°00′W / 52.7°S 22°W |
| Max. width of band | 675 km (419 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| Greatest eclipse | 13:50:19 |
| References | |
| Saros | 146 (23 of 76) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9371 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Sunday, May 29, 1938,[1] with a magnitude of 1.0552. 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 1.2 days before perigee (on May 30, 1938, at 17:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]
The path of totality was mostly on the sea. The only land that was covered was South Orkney Islands of Antarctica, as well as South Georgia except for its northwestern part, Zavodovski Island and Visokoi Island controlled by the United Kingdom. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of southern and central South America and Southern Africa. This was the first of 41 umbral eclipses of Solar Saros 146.
- ^ "May 29, 1938 Total Solar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 3 August 2024.