Solar eclipse of January 3, 1908

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Friday, January 3, 1908,   with a magnitude of 1.0437. 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 Ebon Atoll in German New Guinea (now in Marshall Islands), British Western Pacific Territories (the part now belonging to Kiribati), Line Islands (now in Kiribati), Phoenix Islands (now in Kiribati) on January 4 (Saturday), and Costa Rica on January 3 (Friday). The green line means eclipse begins or ends at sunrise or sunset. The magenta line means mid eclipse at sunrise or sunset, or northern or southern penumbra limits. The green point means eclipse obscuration of 50%. The blue line means umbral northern and southern limits.

Observations
The eclipse was observed by astronomer William Wallace Campbell of Lick Observatory, viewed from Flint Island, Kiribati, an uninhabited island in the Line Islands. The team of Lick Observatory departed from San Francisco on November 22, 1907, and arrived in Papeete, Tahiti Island, the capital of French Polynesia on December 4. After making preparations of supplies and logistics personnel, it departed again on the evening of December 7 and arrived at Flint Island on the afternoon of the 9:
 * 1908_01_03_Lick.jpg

Astronomers from the Royal Astronomical Society, Sydney Observatory and surveyors from New Zealand also observed the total eclipse near the observation site of Lick Observatory. The team successfully took images of the corona.

Eclipses in 1908

 * A total solar eclipse on January 3, 1908.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on January 18, 1908.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on June 14, 1908.
 * An annular solar eclipse on June 28, 1908.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 13, 1908.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on December 7, 1908.
 * A hybrid solar eclipse on December 23, 1908.

Metonic

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 17, 1904
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 22, 1911

Tzolkinex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 22, 1900
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 14, 1915

Half-Saros

 * Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 27, 1898
 * Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 8, 1917

Tritos

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 1, 1897
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 3, 1918

Solar Saros 130

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 22, 1889
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of January 14, 1926

Inex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 22, 1879
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 13, 1936

Triad

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 4, 1821
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 3, 1994