Solar eclipse of December 4, 2002
Total eclipse / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Wednesday, December 4, 2002,[1][2] with a magnitude of 1.0244. 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. It was visible from a narrow corridor in southern Africa, the Indian Ocean and southern Australia. A partial eclipse was seen from the much broader path of the Moon's penumbra, including most of Africa and Australia. During the sunset after the eclipse many observers in Australia saw numerous and unusual forms of a green flash.[3]
Solar eclipse of December 4, 2002 | |
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![]() The diamond ring effect at the end of totality, taken near Woomera, South Australia | |
Type of eclipse | |
Nature | Total |
Gamma | −0.302 |
Magnitude | 1.0244 |
Maximum eclipse | |
Duration | 124 s (2 min 4 s) |
Coordinates | 39.5°S 59.6°E / -39.5; 59.6 |
Max. width of band | 87 km (54 mi) |
Times (UTC) | |
Greatest eclipse | 7:32:16 |
References | |
Saros | 142 (22 of 72) |
Catalog # (SE5000) | 9514 |
In some parts of Angola, it was the second total eclipse of the Sun within 18 months, following the Solar eclipse of June 21, 2001.