A total eclipse of the Sun occurred on 5 March, 1223 BC UT Old Style, with maximum eclipse at 10:38 UT. A dramatic total eclipse plunged the Sun into darkness for 3 minutes and 56 seconds at maximum, creating an amazing spectacle for observers in a broad path up to 189 km wide. It was seen in north-western Afrca, Turkey, and central Asia. The partial eclipse was visible across most of Africa, Europe, and most of Asia.

The total eclipse lasted for 3 minutes and 56 seconds. Maximum eclipse was at 10:38:00 UT.

This may be the eclipse documented on a clay tablet found in 1948 among the ruins of the ancient city of Ugarit: "On the day of the new moon, in the month of Hiyar, the Sun was put to shame, and went down in the daytime, with Mars in attendance". Another candidate eclipse matching the Ugarit description is the eclipse of 3 May, 1375 BC.

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 eclipse belongs to solar Saros series 20.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, solar Saros series 20, is linked to lunar Saros series 13. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 10:38:00 on 5 Mar UT TDT Date/time (max) 18:48:58 on 5 Mar TDT
Saros Series 20 Number in Series
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.0444
Gamma 0.628 Path Width (km) 189
Delta T 8h11m Error ± 36m32s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 3m56s
Partial Rating Total Rating

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.

Data last updated: 2015-06-21 22:11:40 UTC.