A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's light from a small section of Earth. This alignment occurs about every six months during the new moon phase when the Moon's orbit is nearest to Earth's orbit. In a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun. Partial and annular eclipses only partially obscure the Sun. Unlike lunar eclipses, which can be seen from anywhere on Earth facing the Moon, solar eclipses are only visible from a limited area. While total solar eclipses occur globally every 18 months, they only reappear in a specific location every 360 to 410 years.
May 29, 1919: Confirmation of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
The total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, played a crucial role in confirming Einstein's theory of general relativity. Arthur Eddington observed the apparent shift in the positions of stars in the constellation Taurus due to the Sun's gravity, thus confirming the theory of gravitational lensing.
1935: Five Solar Eclipses in a Year
The year 1935 was notable for having five solar eclipses, a rare occurrence.
1954: Allais Effect
In 1954, Maurice Allais observed unusual movements during a solar eclipse, suggesting a possible anomaly in gravity. This phenomenon, known as the Allais effect, remains controversial.
June 20, 1955: Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the 20th Century
The longest total solar eclipse of the 20th century, lasting 7 minutes and 8 seconds, happened on June 20, 1955.
1959: Allais Effect
Maurice Allais again observed the unusual movements during a solar eclipse in 1959, furthering the discussion about the Allais effect, a possible deviation in gravity during eclipses.
1966: Total Solar Eclipse Observed from Space
The crew of Gemini 12 observed a total solar eclipse from space in 1966, marking a milestone in eclipse observation.
1970: Saxl Effect
In 1970, Saxl and Allen observed the Saxl effect, which involves a sudden change in the motion of a torsion pendulum during a solar eclipse.
June 30, 1973: Longest Total Solar Eclipse
The longest total solar eclipse in recent history occurred on June 30, 1973, lasting 7 minutes and 3 seconds. Passengers on a Concorde were able to extend this duration to 74 minutes by flying along the path of the Moon's umbra.
1997: Possible Gravitational Shielding Effect
During the 1997 solar eclipse, Wang et al. observed a possible gravitational shielding effect, sparking debate in the scientific community.
1999: Partial Solar Eclipse Observed from Mir
A partial solar eclipse was observed from the Mir space station in 1999, showcasing the capability to observe eclipses from space.
February 5, 2000: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse took place on February 5, 2000, as a component of a lunar year eclipse set.
July 1, 2000: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurred on July 1, 2000, as part of a lunar year eclipse set.
July 31, 2000: Partial Solar Eclipse
On July 31, 2000, a partial solar eclipse occurred, belonging to the same lunar year eclipse set as the eclipse on February 5, 2000.
December 25, 2000: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurred on December 25, 2000, within the same lunar year eclipse set as the July 1, 2000, eclipse.
2002: Further Analysis of Gravitational Shielding Effect
In 2002, Wang and a colleague published a detailed analysis of their 1997 observations of a potential gravitational shielding effect during a solar eclipse. Their analysis suggested the phenomenon remains unexplained.
June 1, 2011: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse took place on June 1, 2011, as part of a lunar year eclipse set.
November 25, 2011: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurred on November 25, 2011, belonging to the same lunar year eclipse set as the June 1, 2011, eclipse.
2011: Solar Eclipse Semester Series
The solar eclipse semester series that occurred in 2011 involved eclipses repeating approximately every 177 days and 4 hours at alternating nodes of the Moon's orbit.
April 29, 2014: Non-Central Annular Solar Eclipse
On April 29, 2014, a rare non-central annular solar eclipse occurred where the umbra intersected with Earth but not its central line.
2014: Solar Eclipse Semester Series
A solar eclipse semester series, featuring eclipses recurring roughly every 177 days and 4 hours at alternating nodes of the Moon's orbit, concluded in 2014.
March 20, 2015: Solar Eclipse Impact on Power Systems
The solar eclipse on March 20, 2015, was the first to have a significant impact on power systems. The decrease in solar power generation prompted the electricity sector to take steps to mitigate any disruptions.
February 15, 2018: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurred on February 15, 2018, as a component of a previous semester series.
July 13, 2018: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse took place on July 13, 2018, as a part of a semester series.
August 11, 2018: Partial Solar Eclipse
On August 11, 2018, a partial solar eclipse took place, belonging to the same semester series as the February 15, 2018, eclipse.
January 6, 2019: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurred on January 6, 2019, as part of the same semester series as the eclipse on July 13, 2018.
2023: Hybrid Solar Eclipse
A hybrid solar eclipse, appearing total at some locations and annular at others, took place in 2023. This event had a short duration of totality due to its narrow path width.
June 12, 2029: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse is anticipated on June 12, 2029, within a lunar year eclipse set.
December 5, 2029: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse is predicted for December 5, 2029, as part of the same lunar year eclipse set as the eclipse on June 12, 2029.
April 9, 2043: Non-Central Total Solar Eclipse
A non-central total solar eclipse, where the umbra intersects Earth but not its central line, is predicted for April 9, 2043.