Solar eclipse of June 20, 1974
| Total eclipse | |
| Gamma | −0.8239 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 1.0592 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 309 s (5 min 9 s) |
| Coordinates | 32°06′S 103°42′E / 32.1°S 103.7°E |
| Max. width of band | 344 km (214 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| Greatest eclipse | 4:48:04 |
| References | |
| Saros | 146 (25 of 76) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9452 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Thursday, June 20, 1974, with a magnitude of 1.0592. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the view 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 1.4 days before perigee (on June 21, 1974, at 14:50 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
The path of totality passed over the Indian Ocean, Amsterdam Island, and Western Australia. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of the Malagasy Republic (today's Madagascar), Indonesia, Australia, and the southwestern coast of South Island, New Zealand.