Solar eclipse of May 6, 1883
Encyclopedia
A total solar eclipse
occurred on May 6, 1883.
The path of totality fell across the southern Pacific Ocean
with no major landfall. Partiality was visible from far eastern Australia
at sunrise, and New Zealand
, as well as western South America
and southern Mexico
near sunset. This eclipse is a member of Solar Saros 136
, and its maximum duration was 5 minutes and 58 seconds.
to Caroline Island
aboard the USS Hartford
to observe the total solar eclipse
. A French expedition also observed the eclipse from Caroline, and the United States Navy
mapped the atoll. Johann Palisa
, a member of the expedition, discovered an asteroid later that year which he named Carolina
"in remembrance of his visit to [the] island."
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 May 6, 1883.
The path of totality fell across the southern 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...
with no major landfall. Partiality was visible from far eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at sunrise, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, as well as western 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...
and southern 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...
near sunset. This eclipse is a member of Solar Saros 136
Solar Saros 136
Solar Saros 136 is currently producing the longest total solar eclipses. It produced the 6 longest total eclipses of the 20th century, 3 of them over 7 minutes long. It also produced the longest total eclipse of the 21st century at 6 min 39 sec, and overall will produce the centuries 3 longest...
, and its maximum duration was 5 minutes and 58 seconds.
Observations
An expedition of American astronomers traveled from PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
to Caroline Island
Caroline Island
Caroline Island or Caroline Atoll , is the easternmost of the uninhabited coral atolls which comprise the southern Line Islands in the central Pacific Ocean....
aboard the USS Hartford
USS Hartford
Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Hartford, named in honor of Hartford, the capital of Connecticut., was a sloop-of-war, commissioned in 1859 and finally disposed of in 1957....
to observe the 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...
. A French expedition also observed the eclipse from Caroline, and the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
mapped the atoll. Johann Palisa
Johann Palisa
Johann Palisa was an Austrian astronomer, born in Opava in Austrian Silesia .He was a prolific discoverer of asteroids, discovering 122 in all, from 136 Austria in 1874 to 1073 Gellivara in 1923...
, a member of the expedition, discovered an asteroid later that year which he named Carolina
235 Carolina
235 Carolina is a sizeable Main belt asteroid. It is an S-type asteroid.It was discovered by Johann Palisa on November 28, 1883 in Vienna.The asteroid was named after Caroline Island, now part of Kiribati.- References :...
"in remembrance of his visit to [the] island."