Solar eclipse of August 18, 1868
A total solar eclipse occurred on August 18, 1868, also known as "The King of Siam's eclipse". 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.
| Solar eclipse of August 18, 1868 | |
|---|---|
Map | |
| Type of eclipse | |
| Nature | Total |
| Gamma | −0.0443 |
| Magnitude | 1.0756 |
| Maximum eclipse | |
| Duration | 407 sec (6 m 47 s) |
| Coordinates | 10.6°N 102.2°E |
| Max. width of band | 245 km (152 mi) |
| Times (UTC) | |
| Greatest eclipse | 5:12:10 |
| References | |
| Saros | 133 (37 of 72) |
| Catalog # (SE5000) | 9207 |
The eclipse was predicted more precisely by King Mongkut of Thailand than it was by French astronomers. The eclipse allowed for the discovery of helium by both Pierre Janssen and Norman Lockyer, who observed Solar prominences with spectroscopes.