A total eclipse of the Sun occurred on Wednesday 17 October, 1781 UT (6 Oct, 1781 Old Style), with maximum eclipse at 08:55 UT. A dramatic total eclipse plunged the Sun into darkness for 4 minutes and 59 seconds at maximum, creating an amazing spectacle for observers in a broad path up to 197 km wide.

The total eclipse lasted for 4 minutes and 59 seconds. Maximum eclipse was at 08:55:42 UT.

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 39th eclipse in solar Saros series 130.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, solar Saros series 130, is linked to lunar Saros series 123. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 08:55:42 on 17 Oct UT TDT Date/time (max) 08:55:59 on 17 Oct TDT
Saros Series 130 Number in Series 39
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.0596
Gamma 0.1007 Path Width (km) 197
Delta T 0m17s Error ± 0m03s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 4m59s
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 22:11:46 UTC.