Solar eclipse of June 8, 1956

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit between Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9, 1956, with a magnitude of 1.0581. 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. It began near sunrise over New Zealand on June 9 (Saturday), and ended west of South America on June 8 (Friday).

Eclipse details

 * Eclipse Magnitude: 1.05810
 * Eclipse Obscuration: 1.11958
 * Gamma: -0.89341
 * Saros Series: 146th (24 of 76)
 * Greatest Eclipse: 08 Jun 1956 21:20:07.7 UTC (21:20:39.3 TD)
 * Ecliptic Conjunction: 08 Jun 1956 21:29:07.4 UTC (21:29:39.0 TD)
 * Equatorial Conjunction: 08 Jun 1856 21:20:45.9 UTC (21:21:17.5 TD)
 * Sun right ascension: 5.13
 * Moon right ascension: 5.13
 * Earth's shadow right ascension: 17.13
 * Sun declination: 22.9
 * Moon declination: 22
 * Earth's shadow declination: -22.9
 * Sun diameter: 1890.4 arcseconds
 * Moon diameter: 1985.8 arcseconds
 * Path Width at Greatest Eclipse: 428.7 km (266.4 mi)
 * Path Width at Greatest Duration: 428.7 km (266.4 mi)
 * Central Duration at Greatest Eclipse: 4 minutes, 44.85 seconds
 * Central Duration at Greatest Duration: 4 minutes, 44.86 seconds

Eclipses in 1956

 * A partial lunar eclipse on May 24, 1956.
 * A total solar eclipse on June 8, 1956.
 * A total lunar eclipse on November 18, 1956.
 * A partial solar eclipse on December 2, 1956.

Metonic

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 20, 1952
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 27, 1960

Tzolkinex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 28, 1949
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of July 20, 1963

Half-Saros

 * Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1947
 * Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1965

Tritos

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 9, 1945
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 1967

Solar Saros 146

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 29, 1938
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of June 20, 1974

Inex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of June 29, 1927
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 19, 1985

Triad

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 7, 1869
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 9, 2043