Solar eclipse of May 30, 1965

Solar eclipse of May 30, 1965
Map
Type of eclipse
NatureTotal
Gamma−0.4225
Magnitude1.0544
Maximum eclipse
Duration315 s (5 min 15 s)
Coordinates2°30′S 133°48′W / 2.5°S 133.8°W / -2.5; -133.8
Max. width of band198 km (123 mi)
Times (UTC)
Greatest eclipse21:17:31
References
Saros127 (55 of 82)
Catalog # (SE5000)9432

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit between Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 31, 1965,[1] with a magnitude of 1.0544. 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 1.9 days before perigee (on June 1, 1965, at 19:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

As most of the eclipse's path was over open ocean, a prolonged observation was made by a jet transport; flying parallel to the path of the eclipse at 587 mph (945 km/h), this gave scientists what was at the time the "longest probe in man's history into the conditions of a solar eclipse", for nearly ten minutes. The expedition involved scientists from NASA, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland; in total, 30 researchers and 13 separate research projects were represented on the plane. [3] [4] [5] The plane, operated by NASA, took off from Hilo, Hawaii, and met up with the path of the eclipse approximately 1,000 mi (1,600 km) south of there.[6] While mostly invisible from land, some ground-based observers in an 85-mile-wide strip of northern New Zealand were able to clearly view the event.[6]

Totality was visible from northwestern Northland Region in New Zealand on May 31 (Monday), and Manuae in Cook Islands, Manuae and Motu One in French Polynesia, and Peru on May 30 (Sunday). A partial eclipse was visible for parts of Oceania, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and western South America.

  1. ^ "May 30, 1965 Total Solar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Orlando Evening Star 1965-05-31 p12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Courier 1965-05-31 p1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Santa Fe New Mexican 1965-05-31 p1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference aus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).