A total eclipse of the Sun occurs on Sunday 21 December, 2234 UT, with maximum eclipse at 12:37 UT. A dramatic total eclipse will plunge the Sun into darkness for 3 minutes and 42 seconds at maximum, creating an amazing spectacle for observers in a broad path up to 197 km wide.

The total eclipse lasts for 3 minutes and 42 seconds. Maximum eclipse is at 12:37:12 UT.

During this eclipse the Sun will be 0.542° in apparent diameter, 1.6% larger than average. The Moon will be at perigee, making it extremely large. At the start and end of the eclipse the Moon will be 0.557°, and at maximum eclipse 0.564°, which is 6.1% larger than average; hence it will cover 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.

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 will be seen. (Click on it for the full-sized version.)

Eclipse Season and Saros Series

This eclipse season contains 2 eclipses:

This is the 18th eclipse in solar Saros series 155.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, solar Saros series 155, is linked to lunar Saros series 148. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 12:37:12 on 21 Dec UT TDT Date/time (max) 12:46:02 on 21 Dec TDT
Saros Series 155 Number in Series 18
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.0403
Gamma 0.7299 Path Width (km) 197
Delta T 8m50s Error ± 6m00s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 3m42s
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 147229897 km (2.8%) Moon Distance 357522 km (2.2%)
Sun Diameter 0.542° Moon Diameter 0.557° - 0.564°
Apogee 06:44 on 9 Dec UT Perigee 00:57 on 22 Dec 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 22:11:47 UTC.