Solar eclipse of November 3, 1994

A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Thursday, November 3, 1994, with a magnitude of 1.0535. 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 in Peru, northern Chile, Bolivia, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil and Gough Island of British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. The Iguazu Falls, one of the largest waterfalls systems in the world, lay in the path of totality. Totality lasted about 4.4 minutes, so it was a relatively long total solar eclipse. Occurring only 10 hours and 2 minutes before perigee (on November 3, 1994, at 23:41 UTC, while greatest eclipse at 13:39 UTC), the moon's apparent diameter was also larger.

Eclipse details

 * Eclipse Magnitude: 1.05351
 * Eclipse Obscuration: 1.10989
 * Gamma: -0.35216
 * Greatest Eclipse: 1994 November 3 at 13:39:05.4 UTC
 * Greatest Eclipse: 1994 November 3 at 13:39:05.4 UTC
 * Location of Greatest Eclipse: 35º21′22″ S, 34º13′21″ W, South Atlantic Ocean, 1,586 km (985.5 mi) off the coast of Brazil
 * Duration of Totality: 4 minutes, 23.28 seconds (263.28 seconds)
 * Sun Right Ascension: 14.57
 * Sun Declination: −15.1
 * Sun Diameter: 1934.8 arc-seconds
 * Moon Right Ascension: 14.56
 * Moon Declination: −15.4
 * Moon Diameter: 2006.0 arc-seconds
 * Saros Series: 133rd (44 of 72)

Observations
Jay Pasachoff led an observation team from Williams College in Massachusetts, observing the total eclipse at a military base near Putre, Chile, in the Atacama Desert. The team took images of the corona and measured its brightness. Teams from Japan and South Korea also conducted observations nearby. The Russian Academy of Sciences sent a team to Criciúma, Brazil, taking images of the corona in polarized light and proposing reconstruction of its ray structure.

Eclipses in 1994

 * An annular solar eclipse on May 10, 1994.
 * A partial lunar eclipse on May 25, 1994.
 * A total solar eclipse on November 3, 1994.
 * A penumbral lunar eclipse on November 18, 1994.

Metonic

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 15, 1991
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 22, 1998

Tzolkinex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of September 23, 1987
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 14, 2001

Half-Saros

 * Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1985
 * Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 9, 2003

Tritos

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 4, 1983
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 3, 2005

Solar Saros 133

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 23, 1976
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 13, 2012

Inex

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 23, 1965
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 14, 2023

Triad

 * Preceded by: Solar eclipse of January 3, 1908
 * Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 3, 2081