Solar eclipse of June 8, 1956
| Total eclipse | |
| Gamma | −0.8934 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 1.0581 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 285 s (4 min 45 s) |
| Coordinates | 40°48′S 140°42′W / 40.8°S 140.7°W |
| Max. width of band | 429 km (267 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| Greatest eclipse | 21:20:39 |
| References | |
| Saros | 146 (24 of 76) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9412 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit between Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9, 1956, with a magnitude of 1.0581. 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 1.3 days before perigee (on June 10, 1956, at 4:10 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
It began near sunrise over New Zealand on June 9 (Saturday), and ended west of South America on June 8 (Friday). A partial eclipse was visible for most of Oceania.