Timezone / Date

You have not selected a timezone for eclipse timings, so all times are shown in UT (essentially GMT).

Accuracy

Due to the erratic rotation of the Earth, the time and location of the eclipse cannot be forecast perfectly. This eclipse's forecast is estimated to be accurate to within 2km in distance and a few seconds in time.

A total eclipse of the Sun occurred on Thursday 21 June, 2001 UT, lasting from 09:33–14:34 UT. A dramatic total eclipse plunged the Sun into darkness for 4 minutes and 57 seconds at maximum, creating an amazing spectacle for observers in a broad path up to 200 km wide. It was seen across Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar. The partial eclipse was visible in Brazil and most of Africa.

The timings of the phases of the overall eclipse worldwide are as follows. In any particular place it would have been seen for a significantly shorter duration as the shadow moved across the Earth:

Partial eclipse began: 09:33:04 UT
Total eclipse began: 10:36:00 UT
Maximum eclipse: 12:03:46 UT
Total eclipse ended: 13:31:37 UT
Partial eclipse ended: 14:34:26 UT

During this eclipse the Sun was 0.525° in apparent diameter, 1.6% smaller than average. The Moon was just 2 days before perigee, making it fairly large. At the start and end of the eclipse the Moon was 0.543°, and at maximum eclipse 0.551°, which is 3.7% larger than average; hence it covered the Sun, making this a total eclipse. The statistics page has information on the ranges of the sizes of the Sun and Moon, and the Moon data page displays detailed information on the Moon's key dates.

The track passes from north of the Falklands, to the point of greatest eclipse in the south Atlantic west of Africa. From there it crosses Africa, passing through Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. it then crosses Madagascar just before it finishes in the Indian Ocean. It is visible as a partial eclipse as far north as the mid-Sahara.

Interactive Map

This map shows the visibility of the eclipse. The shaded area saw the total solar eclipse; however, near the edges of this area, the eclipse was very short. The bold line shows the centre of the path, where the eclipse lasted longest.

Use the zoom controls to zoom in and out; hover your mouse over any point on the centreline to see the time and duration of the eclipse at that point. You can pan and zoom the map to see detail for any part of the eclipse path.

The interactive map is currently not available.

Overview Map

This map sourced from NASA Goddard Space flight Center: GSFC Eclipse Web SiteGSFC Eclipse Web Site
The primary source of all the information on eclipses presented here at Hermit Eclipse. (NASA Goddard Space flight Center)
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html shows the visibility of the total solar eclipse. It also shows the broader area in which a partial eclipse was seen. (Click on it for the full-sized version.)

Eclipse Season and Saros Series

This eclipse season contains 2 eclipses:

This was the 57th eclipse in solar Saros series 127.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, solar Saros series 127, is linked to lunar Saros series 120. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 12:03:42 on 21 Jun UT TDT Date/time (max) 12:04:46 on 21 Jun TDT
Saros Series 127 Number in Series 57
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.0495
Gamma -0.5701 Path Width (km) 200
Delta T 1m04s Error ± 0m00s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 4m57s
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 152032955 km (102.1%) Moon Distance 366692 km (20.5%)
Sun Diameter 0.525° Moon Diameter 0.543° - 0.551°
Apogee 19:48 on 11 Jun UT Perigee 17:15 on 23 Jun UT
Contact p1 09:33:04 on 21 Jun UT Contact p2
Contact u1 10:36:00 on 21 Jun UT Contact u2 10:38:19 on 21 Jun UT
Max eclipse 12:03:46 on 21 Jun UT
Contact u3 13:29:14 on 21 Jun UT Contact u4 13:31:37 on 21 Jun UT
Contact p3 Contact p4 14:34:26 on 21 Jun UT

Note that while all dates and times on this site (except where noted) are in UT, which is within a second of civil time, the dates and times shown in NASA's eclipse listingsGSFC Eclipse Web Site
The primary source of all the information on eclipses presented here at Hermit Eclipse. (NASA Goddard Space flight Center)
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html are in the TDT timescale.

The Sun and Moon distances are shown in km, and as a percentage of their minimum - maximum distances; hence 0% is the closest possible (Earth's perihelion, or the Moon's closest possible perigee) and 100% is the farthest (aphelion, the farthest apogee). The statistics page has information on the ranges of sizes of the Sun and Moon, and the Moon data page displays detailed information on the Moon's key dates.

Data last updated: 2015-06-21 22:11:46 UTC.