A total eclipse of the Sun occurred on Tuesday 12 December, 1871 UT (30 Nov, 1871 Old Style), with maximum eclipse at 04:03 UT. A dramatic total eclipse plunged the Sun into darkness for 4 minutes and 23 seconds at maximum, creating an amazing spectacle for observers in a path up to 157 km wide.

The total eclipse lasted for 4 minutes and 23 seconds. Maximum eclipse was at 04:03:39 UT.

During this eclipse the Sun was 0.542° in apparent diameter, 1.6% 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 0.567°, which is 6.7% 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.

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 44th 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) 04:03:39 on 12 Dec UT TDT Date/time (max) 04:03:38 on 12 Dec TDT
Saros Series 130 Number in Series 44
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.0465
Gamma 0.1836 Path Width (km) 157
Delta T -1m-1s Error ± 0m00s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 4m23s
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 147255560 km (3.3%) Moon Distance 357354 km (1.9%)
Sun Diameter 0.542° Moon Diameter 0.557° - 0.567°
Apogee 18:22 on 29 Nov UT Perigee 14:36 on 12 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 22:11:46 UTC.