A total eclipse of the Sun occurs on Sunday 22 December, 2261 UT, with maximum eclipse at 20:28 UT. A dramatic total eclipse will plunge the Sun into darkness for 3 minutes and 17 seconds at maximum, creating an amazing spectacle for observers in a path up to 147 km wide.

The total eclipse lasts for 3 minutes and 17 seconds. Maximum eclipse is at 20:28:46 UT.

During this eclipse the Sun will be 0.542° in apparent diameter, 1.6% larger than average. The Moon will be just a day before perigee, making it very large. At the start and end of the eclipse the Moon will be 0.553°, and at maximum eclipse 0.560°, which is 5.5% 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 51st eclipse in solar Saros series 136.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, solar Saros series 136, is linked to lunar Saros series 129. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 20:28:46 on 22 Dec UT TDT Date/time (max) 20:38:50 on 22 Dec TDT
Saros Series 136 Number in Series 51
Penumbral Magnitiude Central Magnitiude 1.0337
Gamma 0.636 Path Width (km) 147
Delta T 10m04s Error ± 7m08s (95%)
Penumbral Duration Partial Duration
Total Duration 3m17s
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 147219376 km (2.6%) Moon Distance 360281 km (7.7%)
Sun Diameter 0.542° Moon Diameter 0.553° - 0.560°
Apogee 19:41 on 11 Dec UT Perigee 23:52 on 23 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.