Solar eclipse of November 12, 1966

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Saturday, November 12, 1966, with a magnitude of 1.0234. 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. The path of totality cut a swath across South America from north of Lima, Peru, passing the northeastern tip of Chile, Bolivia, Northwest of Argentina, southwestern tip of Ñeembucú Department in Paraguay, nearly to the southernmost tip of Brazil.

Observations
The NASA Gemini XII mission observed this total eclipse from space: The Canary Island controller greeted the crew in the morning with the news that there would be a second maneuver - 5 meters forward - to line the vehicles up properly. The prospects panned out richly, and the crew reported seeing the eclipse "right on the money at 16:01:44 g.e.t." Although the crew thought for a moment that they were slightly off track, their aim had actually been accurate.

The 28 October 1966 launch of the U.S. Air Force's Orbiting Vehicle 3-2 (OV3-2) was timed such that it could observe ambient charged particle variations before, during, and after the eclipse.

Eclipses in 1966

 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on May 4, 1966.
 * An annular solar eclipse on May 20, 1966.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on October 29, 1966.
 * A total solar eclipse on November 12, 1966.

Metonic

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 25, 1963
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 31, 1970

Tzolkinex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 2, 1959
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 24, 1973

Half-Saros

 * Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 7, 1957
 * Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1975

Tritos

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 14, 1955
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 12, 1977

Solar Saros 142

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 1, 1948
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 22, 1984

Inex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 2, 1937
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 24, 1995

Triad

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 11, 1880
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 12, 2053