Solar eclipse of February 26, 1979 | |
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![]() Totality as seen from Brandon, Manitoba | |
Type of eclipse | |
Nature | Total |
Gamma | 0.8981 |
Magnitude | 1.0391 |
Maximum eclipse | |
Duration | 169 s (2 min 49 s) |
Coordinates | 52°06′N 94°30′W / 52.1°N 94.5°W |
Max. width of band | 298 km (185 mi) |
Times (UTC) | |
Greatest eclipse | 16:55:06 |
References | |
Saros | 120 (59 of 71) |
Catalog # (SE5000) | 9462 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of the orbit in North America on Monday, February 26, 1979.
A solar eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon that 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. Occurring only 18 hours and 35 minutes after perigee (Perigee on February 25, 1979, at 22:19 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
The central shadow of the Moon passed through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana (where totality covered almost the entire state), North Dakota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, the Northwest Territories of Canada (the portion that is now Nunavut), and Greenland.