Updated: 23 September 2007
In his book Mathematical Astronomy Morsels III, Jean Meeus devotes
chapter 10 to the maximum possible duration of a total solar eclipse. This
maximum varies with time as plotted below. The eclipse of 16 July 2186 will
have a duration of 7m29s, close to the theoretical maximum. That eclipse
will have the longest totality in the period ranging from 3000 B.C until the
year 5000. |
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The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st centrury will be on 22 July 2009. Totality will be 6m39s at the maximum. The total eclipse of 13 June 2132 will be the first to last longer: 6m55s. The eclipse of 11 July 1991 lasted 6m53s. |
The table belows shows the eclipse with a totality of more than 7 minutes. Note that there were none between 1098 en 1937. The long eclipse often come in group, each event separated by a Saros period of 18 year and 11 days. |
-1460 Jun 22 | 07:04 | 150 Jun 12 | 07:13 | 1937 Jun 8 | 07:04 |
-1442 Jul 3 | 07:05 | 168 Jun 23 | 07:03 | 1955 Jun 20 | 07:08 |
-1124 May 28 | 07:03 | 327 Jun 6 | 07:03 | 1973 Jun 30 | 07:04 |
-1106 Jun 9 | 07:04 | 345 Jun 16 | 07:17 | 2150 Jun 25 | 07:14 |
-779 May 24 | 07:12 | 363 Jun 27 | 07:24 | 2168 Jul 5 | 07:26 |
-761 Jun 5 | 07:25 | 381 Jul 8 | 07:22 | 2186 Jul 16 | 07:29 |
-743 Jun 15 | 07:28 | 399 Jul 19 | 07:11 | 2204 Jul 27 | 07:22 |
-725 Jun 26 | 07:18 | 681 May 23 | 07:10 | 2222 Aug 8 | 07:06 |
-707 Jul 7 | 07:00 | 699 Jun 3 | 07:17 | 2504 Jun 14 | 07:10 |
-443 Apr 30 | 07:01 | 717 Jun 13 | 07:15 | 2522 Jun 25 | 07:12 |
-425 May 12 | 07:12 | 735 Jun 25 | 07:02 | 2540 Jul 5 | 07:04 |
-407 May 22 | 07:13 | 1044 May 29 | 07:12 | 2849 Jun 12 | 07:00 |
-389 Jun 2 | 07:04 | 1062 Jun 9 | 07:20 | 2867 Jun 23 | 07:10 |
114 May 22 | 07:06 | 1080 Jun 20 | 07:18 | 2885 Jul 3 | 07:11 |
132 Jun 1 | 07:14 | 1098 Jul 1 | 07:05 | 2903 Jul 16 | 07:04 |