Eclipses - 2018
What is an Eclipse
An eclipse takes place when one heavenly body such as a moon or planet moves into the shadow of another heavenly body. There are two types of eclipses on Earth: an eclipse of the moon and an eclipse of the sun.
Eclipses for the Year 2018
There are 3 Partial Solar eclipse and 2 total Lunar eclipses are in 2018 as follows.
| Date and Year | Eclipse | Visibility in Sri Lanka |
| 31st January 2018 | Lunar (Total) | Yes |
| 15th February 2018 | Solar (Partial) | No |
| 13th July 2018 | Solar (Partial) | No |
| 27th July 2018 | Lunar (Total) | No |
| 11th August 2018 | Solar (Partial) | No |
Lunar Eclipses for the year 2018 (Total)
31st January 2018
Eclipse is visible to Sri Lanka after Sunset. Sun set time on 31st January is 1819hrs.
Other countries: Asia, Australia, Pacific, w N.America
Times for each position is shown in the table below (Sri Lankan Standard Time)
| Time (Local) | |||
| Hrs | Min | Sec | |
| Moon Enters Penumbra (P1) Eclipse start | 16 | 21 | 15 |
| Moon start to enters Umbra (U1) | 17 | 18 | 27 |
| Moon totally entered Umbra (U2) | 18 | 21 | 47 |
| Mid Eclipse (Mid) | 18 | 59 | 8 |
| Moon start to leave Umbra (U3) | 19 | 37 | 51 |
| Moon total leave Umbra (U4) | 20 | 41 | 11 |
| Moon Total leave Penumbra (P4) Eclipse finished | 21 | 38 | 27 |
Eclipse Duration
| Penumbral | 05 hrs 17 minutes 12 seconds |
| Umbral | 03 hrs 22 minutes 44 seconds |
| Total | 01 hr 16 minutes 04 seconda |
27th July 2018
Visible to Sri Lanka. It will start to see at 2234 hrs on 27th July and will continue until 28th July (Next day) 0458 hrs.
Other visible countries : South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
Times for each position is shown in the table below (Sri Lankan Standard Time)
| Time (Local) | |||
| Hrs | Min | Sec | |
| Moon Enters Penumbra (P1) Eclipse start | 22 | 34 | 49 |
| Moon start to enters Umbra (U1) | 23 | 54 | 27 |
| Moon totally entered Umbra (U2) - 28th July 2014 | 01 | 00 | 15 |
| Mid Eclipse (Mid) | |||
| Moon start to leave Umbra (U3) | 02 | 43 | 12 |
| Moon total leave Umbra (U4) | 03 | 49 | 00 |
| Moon Total leave Penumbra (P4) Eclipse finished | 04 | 58 |
37 |
Eclipse Duration
| Penumbral | 06 hrs 13 minutes 48 seconds |
| Umbral | 03 hrs 54 minutes 32 seconds |
| Total | 01 hr 42 minutes 57 seconds |
Solar Eclipses
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets between Earth and the sun, and the moon casts a shadow over Earth. A solar eclipse can only take place at the phase of new moon, when the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth and its shadows fall upon Earth's surface
Solar Eclipses for the year 2018
15th February 2018 (Partial Eclipse of the sun)
Eclipse not Visible to Sri Lanka and the Eclipse date for Sri Lanka is 16th February as it will start after midnight on 15th February 2018. Eclipse Visible to Antarctica, Argentina, Chile, Falkland Island, Juan Fernandez Island, Paraguay, South Georgia, Uruguay (Antarctica, S. America)
Times for the positions of Solar Eclipse (Sri Lankan Standard Time) -
| Time (UT) | Lon | Lat | ||
| Hrs | Min | |||
| Eclipse begins. First contact with Earth | 00 | 25.8 | 144027.5’E | 62026.3’S |
| Beginning of Northern limit of Penumbras | 00 | 37.4 | 147006.8’E | 52057.8’S |
| Greatest Eclipse (Magnitude – 0.3365) | 02 | 21.3 | 0053.0’E | 71005.6’S |
| End of northern limit of Penumbra | 05 | 55.5 | 56053.1’W | 25016.5’S |
| Eclipse end. Last contact with Earth | 06 | 17.1 | 59014.5’W | 35023.6’S |
13th July 2018 (Partial Eclipse of the sun)
Not visible in Sri Lanka, it is only visible to South Australia
Times for the positions of Solar Eclipse (Sri Lankan Standard Time)
| Time (UT) | Lon | Lat | ||
| Hrs | Min | |||
| Eclipse begins. First contact with Earth | 07 | 18.3 | 96025.4’E | 52056.6’S |
| Beginning of Northern limit of Penumbras | 07 | 39.4 | 85014.2’E | 47043.2’S |
| Greatest Eclipse (Magnitude – 0.3365) | 08 | 31.1 | 127029.1’E | 67055.6’S |
| End of northern limit of Penumbra | 09 | 22.6 | 178054.2’W | 53002.4’S |
| Eclipse end. Last contact with Earth | 09 | 33.7 | 168020.5’E | 57052.6’S |
11th August 2018 (Partial Solar Eclipse)
Eclipse not visible in Sri Lanka
Visible locations : N Europe, NE Asia
Times for the positions of Solar Eclipse (Sri Lankan Standard Time)
| Time (UT) | Lon | Lat | ||
| Hrs | Min | |||
| Eclipse begins. First contact with Earth | 13 | 32.0 | 54049.0’W | 57046.9’N |
| Beginning of Northern limit of Penumbra | 13 | 50.6 | 51047.1’W | 48030.0’N |
| Greatest Eclipse (Magnitude – 0.7372) | 15 | 16.3 | 174041.7’E | 70026.1’N |
| End of northern limit of Penumbra | 16 | 42.1 | 110030.2’E | 24049.1’N |
| Eclipse end. Last contact with Earth | 17 | 00.7 | 109029.1’E | 33044.0’N |