Astronomical Theory Section - Eclipses


How long can an eclipse last?   (1)

  • Basic Theory
  • The Tricky Stuff!
    • The influence of the solstices
    • Long-term cycles
      • Absolute maximum eclipses
    • Very long-term variations
    • An unexpected northern preference
  • Eclipse modelling
  • Longest historical durations
This article begins by defining the parameters that must be maximised for the longest possible eclipse, before describing modelling work I carried out to determine how this maximisation might best be achieved. I then give the results of calculations which actually give an answer to the original question! In deeper study, I analyse how proximity to the solstices affects the duration of an eclipse before considering how the maximum possible duration changes over timescales of thousands of years.

Click on the title to read the article.
Return to Index