Solar eclipse of July 2, 2019


A total solar eclipse occurred at the ascending node of the Moon's orbit on July 2, 2019, with an eclipse magnitude of 1.0459. Totality was visible from the southern Pacific Ocean east of New Zealand to the Coquimbo Region in Chile and Central Argentina at sunset, with the maximum of 4 minutes 32 seconds visible from the Pacific Ocean. The Moon was only 2.4 days before perigee, making it fairly large.
Another solar eclipse occurred one lunar year after this eclipse, on June 21, 2020. A further total solar eclipse will cross this region of the Earth on December 14, 2020.

Images

Visibility

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness. Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide.
Following the North American solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, Astronomers Without Borders collected eclipse glasses for redistribution to Latin America and Asia for the 2019 eclipses.
Totality travelled over areas with low levels of humidity and light pollution, allowing for very good observations. Several major observatories experienced totality, including the European Southern Observatory.

Oeno Island

The first land surface and the only Pacific island from which totality would have been visible is Oeno Island, an uninhabited atoll in the Pitcairn Islands.

Chile

Totality was visible in a large portion of Coquimbo Region and small parts of Atacama Region. Cities in the path include La Serena and La Higuera. Approximately 300,000 people visited La Serena to view the event. Tickets to view the eclipse from the European Southern Observatory were sold for US$2000 each.

Argentina

Totality was visible in the provinces of San Juan, La Rioja, San Luis, Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Buenos Aires. Cities in the path include San Juan and Río Cuarto.

Gallery

Related eclipses

Eclipses of 2019

Saros 127

Inex series

In the 19th century:
In the 22nd century:

Additional sources