View source for Solar eclipse of March 9, 1997

{{Short description|Total eclipse}}
{{Infobox solar eclipse|1997Mar09
| previous         = Solar eclipse of October 12, 1996
| next             = Solar eclipse of September 2, 1997
}}
A total [[solar eclipse]] occurred at the Moon's [[Lunar node|descending node]] of orbit between Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, 1997,<ref>{{cite web|title=March 8–9, 1997 Total Solar Eclipse|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/1997-march-9|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref> with a [[Magnitude of eclipse|magnitude]] of 1.042. 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 18.5 hours after [[Apsis|perigee]] (on March 8, 1997, at 9:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/distance.html?year=1997&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref>

Totality was visible in eastern [[Russia]], northern [[Mongolia]], the northern tip of [[Xinjiang]] and [[Northeastern China]] and the eastern tip of [[Kazakhstan]]. A partial eclipse was visible for parts of [[Southeast Asia]], [[East Asia]], [[Alaska]], and western [[Canada]].

== Unusual gravity variations ==
This solar eclipse is somewhat special in the sense that some unexplained gravity anomalies of about 7 <math>\times</math> 10<sup>−8</sup> m/s<sup>2</sup> during the solar eclipse were observed. Attempts (e.g., Van Flandern–Yang hypothesis) to explain these anomalies have not been able to reach a definite conclusion.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Wang | first1=Qian-shen | last2=Yang | first2=Xin-she | last3=Wu | first3=Chuan-zhen | last4=Guo | first4=Hong-gang | last5=Liu | first5=Hong-chen | last6=Hua | first6=Chang-chai | title=Precise measurement of gravity variations during a total solar eclipse | journal=Physical Review D | volume=62 | issue=4 | date=2000-07-14 | issn=0556-2821 | doi=10.1103/physrevd.62.041101 | page=041101(R)|arxiv=1003.4947| bibcode=2000PhRvD..62d1101W | s2cid=6846335 }}</ref>

== Observations ==
=== Russia ===
[[Russian Academy of Sciences]] sent an observation team near [[Lake Baikal]] to study multiple aspects of the [[Stellar corona|solar corona]], providing complement to the imperfections of the corona observation of the [[Solar and Heliospheric Observatory]] spacecraft.<ref>{{cite web|title=TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF MARCH 9, 1997 IN THE BAIKAL REGION, EAST SIBIRIA|url=http://www.izmiran.ru/info/personalia/molodensky/Eclips97.html|publisher=IZMIRAN|archive-date=2 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002214750/http://www.izmiran.ru/info/personalia/molodensky/Eclips97.html}}</ref>

=== China ===
In China, only a partial eclipse was visible from most areas. The path of totality covered only two narrow areas not adjacent to each other. In [[Northwestern China]], it covered the northern part of [[Altay Prefecture]], [[Xinjiang]]. In [[Northeast China]], it covered the northern part of [[Hulunbuir]] League (now the city of Hulumbuir), [[Inner Mongolia]] and the northern part of neighbouring [[Daxing'anling Prefecture]], [[Heilongjiang]]. Therefore, observations of the total eclipse in China are concentrated in these two areas.

In Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang, the total phase occurred right after sunrise. By observing the change in the brightness in Altay, the [[Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project]] concluded that the phrase of "day dawned twice in Zheng" in the ancient chronicle ''[[Bamboo Annals]]'' referred to a solar eclipse on April 21, 899 BC which also occurred right after sunrise, thus determining the year of the [[Battle of Muye]] and the starting year of the [[Zhou dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web|title=一九九七年“夏商周断代工程”研究|url=http://www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/1998-03/20/GB/17637%5EGM7-2006.HTM|date=20 March 1998|publisher=Guangming Online|language=zh|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402175122/http://www.gmw.cn/01gmrb/1998-03/20/GB/17637%5EGM7-2006.HTM}}</ref> However, doubts also exist on this conclusion. For example, Douglas J. Keenan published on the journal ''[[East Asian History (journal)|East Asian History]]'', stating that calculations show that the eclipse in 899 BC reduced the brightness perceived subjectively by a human observer by less than 25%, and clouds can even cause the same effect very often, thus questioning the conclusion.

Mohe County (now [[Mohe City]]), Heilongjiang, the northernmost county in China, was considered the best observation site in China due to the high [[solar zenith angle]] and the long duration of totality. Within the county, the longest duration occurred in Mohe Township (now [[Beiji, Heilongjiang|Beiji Township]]), the northernmost township in China. [[Comet Hale–Bopp]] also appeared during totality, which also attracted many Chinese to travel to this northernmost town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=1997年漠河日全食观测散记：雪原黑昼_科学探索_科技时代_新浪网|url=http://tech.sina.com.cn/d/2008-07-29/16522358390.shtml|work=[[Sina Corporation|tech.sina.com.cn]]|language=zh|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100258/http://tech.sina.com.cn/d/2008-07-29/16522358390.shtml}}</ref> In addition, the first amateur radio communication experiment during a total solar eclipse in mainland China,<ref>{{cite journal|author=Qian Ruhu|title=收听漠河日全食——首次业余电台日全食通信试验追记|journal=天文爱好者 (journal)|language=zh|year=1997|issue=06}}</ref> and [[China Central Television]]'s first live broadcast of a solar eclipse<ref>{{Cite web|title=《新闻调查》 19970314 寻踪日全食_新闻调查_视频_央视网|url=http://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10435/3d420a0300054dbf923455d9258823d5|work=[[China Central Television]]|language=zh|archive-date=10 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710172617/http://tv.cntv.cn/video/C10435/3d420a0300054dbf923455d9258823d5}}</ref> were also completed there.

== Images ==
[[File:SE1997Mar09T.gif]]

== Eclipse details ==
Shown below are two tables displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. The first table outlines times at which the moon's penumbra or umbra attains the specific parameter, and the second table describes various other parameters pertaining to this eclipse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Total Solar Eclipse of 1997 Mar 09|url=https://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/1901-2000/SE1997Mar09Tprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" align="{{{align|left}}}" style="margin:{{#ifeq:{{{align}}}|left|0 0 0.5em 1em|0 1em 0.5em 0}}"
|+March 9, 1997 Solar Eclipse Times
! Event
! Time (UTC)
|-
| First Penumbral External Contact
| 1997 March 08 at 23:17:38.3 UTC
|-
| First Umbral External Contact
| 1997 March 09 at 00:42:04.9 UTC
|-
| First Central Line
| 1997 March 09 at 00:44:28.2 UTC
|-
| First Umbral Internal Contact
| 1997 March 09 at 00:46:59.1 UTC
|-
| Ecliptic Conjunction
| 1997 March 09 at 01:15:36.8 UTC
|-
| Greatest Duration
| 1997 March 09 at 01:24:17.2 UTC
|-
| Greatest Eclipse
| 1997 March 09 at 01:24:50.6 UTC
|-
| Equatorial Conjunction
| 1997 March 09 at 01:54:40.0 UTC
|-
| Last Umbral Internal Contact
| 1997 March 09 at 02:02:20.9 UTC
|-
| Last Central Line
| 1997 March 09 at 02:04:51.3 UTC
|-
| Last Umbral External Contact
| 1997 March 09 at 02:07:14.0 UTC
|-
| Last Penumbral External Contact
| 1997 March 09 at 03:31:50.3 UTC
|}

{|class="wikitable" align="{{{align|right}}}" style="margin:{{#ifeq:{{{align}}}|right|0 0 0.5em 1em|0 1em 0.5em 0}}"
|+March 9, 1997 Solar Eclipse Parameters
! Parameter
! Value
|-
| Eclipse Magnitude
| 1.04202
|-
| Eclipse Obscuration
| 1.08580
|-
| Gamma
| 0.91830
|-
| Sun Right Ascension
| 23h17m46.1s
|-
| Sun Declination
| -04°32'29.2"
|-
| Sun Semi-Diameter
| 16'06.5"
|-
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax
| 08.9"
|-
| Moon Right Ascension
| 23h16m38.7s
|-
| Moon Declination
| -03°38'59.4"
|-
| Moon Semi-Diameter
| 16'40.8"
|-
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax
| 1°01'12.9"
|-
| ΔT
| 62.4 s
|}
{{clear}}

== Eclipse season ==
{{See also|Eclipse cycle}}
This eclipse is part of an [[eclipse season]], a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a [[fortnight]].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Eclipse season of March 1997
! [[Solar eclipse of March 9, 1997|March 9]]<br/>Descending node (new moon)<br/> !! [[March 1997 lunar eclipse|March 24]]<br/>Ascending node (full moon)<br/>
|-
| [[File:SE1997Mar09T.png|200px]] || [[File:Lunar eclipse chart close-1997Mar24.png|200px]]
|- align=center
| [[Total eclipse#Types|Total solar eclipse]]<br />Solar Saros 120 || [[Lunar eclipse#Types of lunar eclipse|Partial lunar eclipse]]<br />Lunar Saros 132
|}

== Related eclipses ==
=== Eclipses in 1997 ===
* '''A total solar eclipse on March 9.'''
* [[March 1997 lunar eclipse|A partial lunar eclipse on March 24]].
* [[Solar eclipse of September 2, 1997|A partial solar eclipse on September 2]].
* [[September 1997 lunar eclipse|A total lunar eclipse on September 16]].

=== Metonic ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of May 21, 1993]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of December 25, 2000]]

=== Tzolkinex ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of January 26, 1990]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of April 19, 2004]]

=== Half-Saros ===
* Preceded by: [[March 1988 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1988]]
* Followed by: [[March 2006 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2006]]

=== Tritos ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of April 9, 1986]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of February 7, 2008]]

=== Solar Saros 120 ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of February 26, 1979]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of March 20, 2015]]

=== Inex ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of March 28, 1968]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of February 17, 2026]]

=== Triad ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of May 9, 1910]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of January 7, 2084]]

=== Solar eclipses of 1997–2000 ===
{{Solar eclipse set 1997–2000}}

=== Saros 120 ===
{{Solar Saros series 120}}

=== Metonic series ===
{{Solar Metonic series 1993–2069}}

=== Tritos series ===
{{Solar Tritos series 2008 February 7}}

=== Inex series ===
{{Solar Inex series 2026 February 17}}

==See also==
* [[Comet Hale-Bopp]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.solar-eclipse.de/en/eclipse/detail/1997-03-09/ solar-eclipse.de: ''The total solar eclipse of 03/09/1997'']
{{Solar eclipse NASA reference|1951/SE1997Mar09T|19970309}}

'''Photos:'''
* [http://www.eclipse-2008.ru/eclipse/1997.php In Russia]
* http://www.izmiran.ru/info/personalia/molodensky/Eclips97.html
* [http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/Solar_Corona_Shape_pg03.html Solar Corona Shape]

{{Solar eclipses}}
{{Commons category|Solar eclipse of 1997 March 9}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solar Eclipse Of March 9, 1997}}
[[Category:Total solar eclipses|1997 03 09]]
[[Category:1997 in science]]
[[Category:20th-century solar eclipses|1997 03 09]]
[[Category:March 1997]]
[[Category:1997 in Mongolia]]
[[Category:1997 in Russia]]