Solar eclipse of June 20, 1955

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Monday, June 20, 1955, with a magnitude of 1.0776. 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.

With a maximum duration of 7 minutes 7.74 seconds, this is the longest solar eclipse of Saros series 136, as well as the longest total solar eclipse since the 11th century, and until the 22nd century, because greatest eclipse occurred near the Equator. Totality beginning over the Indian Ocean, British Seychelles (today's Seychelles) and Maldives, crossing Ceylon (name changed to Sri Lanka later) including the capital city Colombo, Andaman Islands, Burma, Thailand including the capital city Bangkok, Cambodia, Laos, South Vietnam (now belonging to Vietnam), Paracel Islands and Scarborough Shoal (near the greatest eclipse), moving across the Philippines including the capital city Manila, Kayangel Atoll in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now belonging to Palau), Nukumanu Islands in the Territory of Papua New Guinea (today's Papua New Guinea), towards northern Ontong Java Atoll in British Solomon Islands (today's Solomon Islands) ending over Southwestern Pacific Ocean. It was the second central solar eclipse visible from Bangkok from 1948 to 1958, where it is rare for a large city to witness 4 central solar eclipses in just 9.945 years.

Observations
The Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (now incorporated into the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) of the University of Tokyo sent an expedition to Ceylon, but observation failed due to bad weather conditions. The Hydrographic Office of Japan (now Hydrographic and Oceanographic Department of Japan Coast Guard) sent a team to the western coast of Bình Thuận, Bình Sơn, Bình Sơn district, Quảng Ngãi province, South Vietnam. The whole process was not affected by any clouds or fog. The team said that totality of this eclipse was particularly dark compared with previous total solar eclipses observed, and the long duration of totality was also one of the reasons. The team took many images of solar corona successfully. A small team from the United States observed the total eclipse from Thailand. Some members of the Thai royal family also saw the eclipse from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, north of the capital city Bangkok. In addition, Radio Thailand also broadcast a special program on the total solar eclipse nationally, which was the first such broadcast in Thailand.

Eclipses in 1955

 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on January 8, 1955.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on June 5, 1955.
 * A total solar eclipse on June 20, 1955.
 * A partial lunar eclipse on November 29, 1955.
 * An annular solar eclipse on December 14, 1955.

Metonic

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of September 1, 1951
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 8, 1959

Tzolkinex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 1948
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of July 31, 1962

Half-Saros

 * Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1946
 * Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1964

Tritos

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 20, 1944
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 20, 1966

Solar Saros 136

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of June 8, 1937
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of June 30, 1973

Inex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 9, 1926
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 30, 1984

Triad

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 18, 1868
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 20, 2042