Celestial calendar - Solar Eclipses

Credit: Wayne Itokazu of Kekaha, Hawaii

Celestial calendar

Solar Eclipses in 2008:

There are two eclipses of the Sun (an annular eclipse on February 7 and a total eclipse on August 1) and two of the Moon (a total eclipse on February 21 and a partial eclipse on August 16) in 2008. There are no transits of the Sun in 2008.

Note: Be careful looking at the Sun. Even when sunlight is dimmed by fog or clouds, it can still damage your eyes. Never view the Sun directly with the naked eye or with any unfiltered optical device, such as binoculars or a telescope! Use safe solar observing techniques to avoid eye damage.

Annular Solar Eclipse
on October 3, 2005
Credit: Stefan Seip

Annular Eclipse of the Sun, 2008 February 7

Areas of visibility:

Most of Antarctica, New Zealand, the south-eastern part of Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and Western Samoa.

The maximum duration of annularity is 02^m 11^s.

Circumstances of the eclipse:

Eclipse begins	February 7	1^h 38.5^m	UT
Beginning of northern limit of umbra		3^h 20.0^m
Beginning of center line; central eclipse begins		3^h 24.0^m
Beginning of southern limit of umbra		3^h 28.6^m
End of southern limit of umbra		4^h 22.1^m
End of center line; central eclipse ends		4^h 26.6^m
End of northern limit of umbra		4^h 30.6^m
Eclipse ends		6^h 11.9^m

Annular Eclipse of the Sun on February 7, 2008

Total solar eclipse
on March 29, 2006
Credit: Anthony Ayiomamitis

Total solar eclipse
on March 29, 2006
Credit: Stefan Seip

Total Eclipse of the Sun, 2008 August 1

Areas of visibility:

Northern and eastern parts of North America, Greenland, northern Europe and Asia except Japan.

Maximum duration of totality is 02^m 30^s.

Circumstances of the eclipse:

Eclipse begins	August 1	8^h 04.1^m	UT
Beginning of southern limit of umbra		9^h 21.3^m
Beginning of center line; central eclipse begins		9^h 22.6^m
Beginning of northern limit of umbra		9^h 24.0^m
Central eclipse at local apparent noon		9^h 47.4^m
End of northern limit of umbra		11^h 18.6^m
End of center line; central eclipse ends		11^h 20.0^m
End of southern limit of umbra		11^h 21.3^m
Eclipse ends		12^h 38.4^m

Total Eclipse of the Sun on August 1, 2008

Glossary

Eclipse, solar:

an eclipse in which the Earth passes through the shadow cast by the Moon. It may be total (observer in the Moon's umbra), partial (observer in the Moon's penumbra), or annular.

Eclipse, annular:

a solar eclipse in which the solar disk is never completely covered but is seen as an annulus or ring at maximum eclipse. An annular eclipse occurs when the apparent disk of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun.

Magnitude of a solar eclipse:

the fraction of the solar diameter obscured by the Moon at the greatest phase of a solar eclipse, measured along the common diameter.

Penumbra:

the portion of a shadow in which light from an extended source is partially but not completely cut off by an intervening body; the area of partial shadow surrounding the umbra.

Umbra:

the portion of a shadow cone in which none of the light from an extended light source can be observed.

Note: All time moments are given in Universal Time (UT) units.
For Kyiv Local_Time=UT+2^h (and Local_Time=UT+3^h for summer time).