Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009
| Total eclipse | |
Totality from Kurigram District, Bangladesh | |
| Gamma | 0.0698 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 1.0799 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 399 s (6 min 39 s) |
| Coordinates | 24°12′N 144°06′E / 24.2°N 144.1°E |
| Max. width of band | 258 km (160 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| (P1) Partial begin | 23:58:18 |
| (U1) Total begin | 0:51:16 |
| Greatest eclipse | 2:36:25 |
| (U4) Total end | 4:19:26 |
| (P4) Partial end | 5:12:25 |
| References | |
| Saros | 136 (37 of 71) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9528 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, with a magnitude of 1.07991. 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. Occurring about 5.5 hours after perigee (on July 21, 2009, at 21:10 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This was the longest total solar eclipse during the 21st century, with totality lasting a maximum of 6 minutes and 38.86 seconds off the coast of Southeast Asia, causing tourist interest in eastern China, Pakistan, Japan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.