Solar eclipse of March 29, 2006
| Total eclipse | |
Totality from Side, Turkey | |
| Gamma | 0.3843 |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 1.0515 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 247 s (4 min 7 s) |
| Coordinates | 23°12′N 16°42′E / 23.2°N 16.7°E |
| Max. width of band | 184 km (114 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| (P1) Partial begin | 7:36:50 |
| (U1) Total begin | 8:34:20 |
| Greatest eclipse | 10:12:23 |
| (U4) Total end | 11:47:55 |
| (P4) Partial end | 12:45:35 |
| References | |
| Saros | 139 (29 of 71) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9521 |
A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, March 29, 2006, with a magnitude of 1.0515. 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 1.1 days after perigee (on March 28, 2006, at 8:10 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This was the second solar eclipse visible in Africa within just 6 months.