Solar eclipse of April 28, 1911

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Friday, April 28, 1911,  with a magnitude of 1.0562. 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. Totality was visible from southeastern tip of Australia, Tonga, American Samoa and Cook Islands. Places west of International Date Line witnessed the eclipse on Saturday 29 April 1911.

Observations
A team of Stonyhurst College, England and Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, New South Wales made observations in Vavaʻu Islands, Tonga. Members of Stonyhurst College departed from Tilbury, England by ship on February 3 and arrived in Sydney on March 16. The team later departed from Sydney on March 25 and arrived in Vavaʻu on April 2. All the instruments were shipped ashore on April 5. The weather was clear for the next few days, but heavy rain showers fell almost every day starting from April 10. The southeast wind starting on April 26 brought thick and large cirrus clouds. On April 28, one day before the eclipse, there were many clouds, which lasted until the morning of April 29. On April 29, the eclipse day, the sky cleared before the first contact (beginning of the partial phase). Afterwards, some cumulus clouds passed through at first, and the weather remained relatively good. During the totality, weather conditions were good in Neiafu, but some areas about 2 mile away were affected by cirrostratus clouds, and the sun was not visible until 90 seconds before the third contact (end of the total phase). During the eclipse, there was almost no sound on the island except the chirping of crickets, because the government told the local people to keep quiet and not to light fires to avoid creating smoke and disturbing the observations. The team shipped the instruments back on May 2, and the team members departed the island on May 4. They first arrived in Suva, capital of the Colony of Fiji on May 6, and departed again on May 11 and arrived in Sydney on May 17. The British in charge boarded the ship with the instruments leaving Sydney on June 10 and arriving in Tilbury on July 23.

Eclipses in 1911

 * A total solar eclipse on April 28, 1911.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on May 13, 1911.
 * An annular solar eclipse on October 22, 1911.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on November 6, 1911.

Metonic

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 10, 1907
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 14, 1915

Tzolkinex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 17, 1904
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of June 8, 1918

Half-Saros

 * Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 22, 1902
 * Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1920

Tritos

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 28, 1900
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 28, 1922

Solar Saros 127

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 16, 1893
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 1929

Inex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 17, 1882
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 7, 1940

Triad

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of June 26, 1824
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 26, 1998