A total eclipse of the Sun occurred on Wednesday 17 May, 1882 UT (5 May, 1882 Old Style), with maximum eclipse at 07:36 UT. The Sun was darkened for 1 minute and 50 seconds by a dramatic total eclipse covering a narrow path at most 72 km wide. This was a sight worth seeing.

The total eclipse lasted for 1 minute and 50 seconds. Maximum eclipse was at 07:36:32 UT.

During this eclipse the Sun was 0.527° in apparent diameter, 1.1% smaller than average. The Moon was just 4 days past perigee, making it relatively large. At the start and end of the eclipse the Moon was 0.529°, and at maximum eclipse 0.537°, which is 1.2% 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 40th eclipse in solar Saros series 126.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, solar Saros series 126, is linked to lunar Saros series 119. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 07:36:32 on 17 May UT TDT Date/time (max) 07:36:27 on 17 May TDT
Saros Series 126 Number in Series 40
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.02
Gamma 0.3269 Path Width (km) 72
Delta T -1m-5s Error ± 0m00s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 1m50s
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 151361237 km (88.2%) Moon Distance 376284 km (39.5%)
Sun Diameter 0.527° Moon Diameter 0.529° - 0.537°
Perigee 02:51 on 13 May UT Apogee 08:51 on 25 May 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.