Besseliam Elements for Total Solar Eclipse of 2008 Aug 01 (original) (raw)

Fred Espenak

The following table contains the Besselian elements for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2008 Aug 01 .

The geographic coordinates of the eclipse path are listed in the Path Table. The global visibility of the eclipse is shown on an Orthographic Map. The path of the eclipse is displayed in greater detail on an Google Map.

Besselian Elements for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2008 Aug 01

        Equatorial Conjunction:     09:48:26.4 TDT     J.D. = 2454679.908639
          (Sun & Moon in R.A.)    (=09:47:20.8 UT)

         Ecliptic Conjunction:      10:13:38.3 TDT     J.D. = 2454679.926138
         (Sun & Moon in Ec. Lo.)  (=10:12:32.7 UT)

              Instant of            10:22:11.8 TDT     J.D. = 2454679.932082
           Greatest Eclipse:      (=10:21:06.2 UT)


        --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                    Gamma =  0.8307            Ephemerides = VSOP87/ELP2000-85
        Eclipse Magnitude =  1.0394           Lunation No. =     106
                       ΔT =    65.6 s         Saros Series =  126 (47/72)

        Lunar Radius   k1 = 0.272488 (Penumbra)        Shift in      Δb =  0.00"
         Constants:    k2 = 0.272281 (Umbra)       Lunar Position:   Δl =  0.00"

        --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        Geocentric Coordinates of Sun & Moon at Greatest Eclipse (VSOP87/ELP2000-85):

        Sun:       R.A. = 08h47m54.1s         Moon:      R.A. = 08h49m08.8s
                   Dec. =+17°51'56.4"                    Dec. =+18°38'01.6"
          Semi-Diameter =    15'45.5"           Semi-Diameter =    16'14.1"
            Eq.Hor.Par. =       08.7"             Eq.Hor.Par. =  0°59'34.8"

        --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
        Polynomial Besselian Elements for:   2008 Aug 01   10:00:00.0 TDT  (=t0)

          n        x          y         d          l1         l2          μ

          0   0.101843   0.850622   17.86754   0.538231  -0.007867  328.42578
          1   0.5285789 -0.2025213  -0.010121  0.0001111  0.0001105  15.002008
          2  -0.0000621 -0.0001512  -0.000004 -0.0000120 -0.0000120
          3  -0.0000086  0.0000033

                         Tan ƒ1 = 0.0046065    Tan ƒ2 = 0.0045836

        At time t1 (decimal hours), each Besselian element is evaluated by:

           a = a0 + a1*t + a2*t^2 + a3*t^3    (or a = Σ [an*t^n]; n = 0 to 3)

              where:    a = x, y, d, l1, l2, or μ
                        t = t1 - t0  (decimal hours) and t0 = 10.000 TDT


        The Besselian elements were derived from a least-squares fit to elements
        calculated at five uniformly spaced times over a six hour period centered at t0.
        The Besselian elements are valid over the period  7.00 ≤ t0 ≤ 13.00 TDT.

        Note that all times are expressed in Terrestrial Dynamical Time (TDT).

               Saros Series 126:  Member 47 of 72 eclipses in series.

Greatest Eclipse and Greatest Duration

Instant of Greatest Eclipse: Time = 10:21:06.2 UT Lat = 65°39.3'N Long = 072°18.2'E (GE) Sun Altitude = 33.5° Path Width = 237.0 km Sun Azimuth = 235.2° Central Duration = 02m27.1s

Instant of Greatest Duration: Time = 10:19:11 UT Lat = 66°31'N Long = 071°20'E (GD) Sun Altitude = 33.5° Path Width = 236.1 km Sun Azimuth = 233.2° Central Duration = 02m27.2s

Eclipse Predictions

Predictions for the Total Solar Eclipse of 2008 Aug 01 were generated using the VSOP87/ELP2000-85solar and lunar ephemerides and a value of ΔT = 65.6 seconds. The luanr coordinates have been calculated with respect to the Moon's Center of Mass. They DO NOT include a correction to the Center of Figure, or the effects of mountains and valleys along the edge of the Moon.

Acknowledgments

All eclipse calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy. Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment:

"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC"

For more information, see: NASA Copyright Information