A total solar eclipse

Solar eclipse

As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...

 occurred on July 11, 1991.

Totality beginning over the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

 and Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

 moving across Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, down through Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 and across South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

 ending over Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. It lasted for 6 minutes and 53 seconds at the point of maximum eclipse. There will not be a longer total eclipse until June 13, 2132

Solar Eclipse of June 13, 2132

A total solar eclipse will occur on June 13, 2132. - Duration :It will be the longest solar eclipse since the solar eclipse of July 22, 2009, lasting a maximum of 6 minutes, 55 seconds.- References :* * *...

.

This eclipse was the most central total eclipse in 8 centuries, with a gamma

Gamma (solar eclipse)

Gamma of an eclipse describes how centrally the shadow of the moon or earth strikes the other. The distance, when the axis of the shadow cone passes closest to earth or moon's center, is stated as fraction of the equatorial radius of the earth...

 of -.0041. There will not be a more central eclipse for another 8 centuries. Its magnitude

Magnitude of eclipse

The magnitude of eclipse or geometric magnitude is the fraction of the diameter of the eclipsed body which is in eclipse. This applies to both solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. During a partial or annular eclipse the magnitude of the eclipse is always between 0.0 and 1.0, while during a total...

was also greater than any eclipse since the 6th century.