A total eclipse of the Sun occurred on Tuesday 13 November, 2012 UT, lasting from 19:37 on 13 Nov–00:45 on 14 Nov UT. A dramatic total eclipse plunged the Sun into darkness for 4 minutes and 2 seconds at maximum, creating an amazing spectacle for observers in a broad path up to 179 km wide. It was seen in northern Australia and across the south Pacific, ending off South America. The partial eclipse was visible over Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

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: 19:37:58 UT
Total eclipse began: 20:35:08 UT
Maximum eclipse: 22:11:48 UT
Total eclipse ended: 23:48:24 UT
Partial eclipse ended: 00:45:34 on 14 Nov UT

During this eclipse the Sun was 0.539° in apparent diameter, 1.1% larger than average. The Moon was at perigee, making it extremely large. At the start and end of the eclipse the Moon was 0.557°, and at maximum eclipse 0.566°, which is 6.6% 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 total eclipse began in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, then crossed the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Cape York Peninsula, with the centreline of totality passing just north of Cairns. It then crossed the Pacific, passing just north of New Zealand, and finished off the coast of Chile.

The Palmer Goldfields, which saw the total eclipse at around 20:38 UT, will also see the total solar eclipse of 22 May, 2077.

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 45th eclipse in solar Saros series 133.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, solar Saros series 133, is linked to lunar Saros series 126. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 22:11:47 on 13 Nov UT TDT Date/time (max) 22:12:55 on 13 Nov TDT
Saros Series 133 Number in Series 45
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.05
Gamma -0.3719 Path Width (km) 179
Delta T 1m08s Error ± 0m01s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 4m02s
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 148009810 km (18.9%) Moon Distance 357614 km (2.4%)
Sun Diameter 0.539° Moon Diameter 0.557° - 0.566°
Apogee 15:31 on 1 Nov UT Perigee 10:22 on 14 Nov UT
Contact p1 19:37:58 on 13 Nov UT Contact p2
Contact u1 20:35:08 on 13 Nov UT Contact u2 20:37:03 on 13 Nov UT
Max eclipse 22:11:48 on 13 Nov UT
Contact u3 23:46:28 on 13 Nov UT Contact u4 23:48:24 on 13 Nov UT
Contact p3 Contact p4 00:45:34 on 14 Nov 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.