| Global Event: | Total Solar Eclipse |
|---|---|
| Local Type: | Total Solar Eclipse in Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| Began: | Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 6:26 pm |
| Maximum: | Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 7:20 pm 1.001 Magnitude |
| Ended: | Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 7:45 pm |
| Duration: | 1 hour, 19 minutes |
| Totality: | 35 seconds |
All times shown on this page are local time. | |
August 1, 2008 — Total Solar Eclipse — Xi'an
The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looked like in Xi'an. Stages and times of the eclipse are outlined below. All times were local time (CST) for Xi'an.
| Phase | Time | Event | Direction | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18:26:46 Fri, Aug 1 | Partial eclipse beginsThe moment the edge of the Moon touches the edge of the Sun is called first contact. | 282° | 14.9° | |
|
19:20:34 Fri, Aug 1 | Totality beginsThe moment the edge of the Moon covers all of the Sun is called second contact. The Sun is close to the horizon, so make sure you have free sight to the WNW. | 289° | 4.2° | |
|
19:20:52 Fri, Aug 1 | Maximum eclipseThe deepest point of the eclipse, with the Sun at its most hidden. The Sun is close to the horizon, so make sure you have free sight to the WNW. | 289° | 4.3° | |
|
19:21:09 Fri, Aug 1 | Totality endsThe moment the edge of the Moon exposes the Sun is called third contact. The Sun is close to the horizon, so make sure you have free sight to the WNW. | 289° | 4.0° | |
|
19:45:43 Fri, Aug 1 | SunsetThe sun is setting. | 292° | 0.0° | |
|
20:11:29 Fri, Aug 1 | Partial eclipse endsThe moment the edge of the Moon leaves the edge of the Sun is called fourth contact. Below Horizon | 296° | -5.7° |
* Timings for the beginning & end of partial eclipse, the beginning & end of totality, and maximum eclipse are accurate to within a few seconds. This calculation uses a Delta T value of 65.6 seconds.
Timings for other events are approximate—they are included here as a rough guide to features that might be observable. The icons show the position of the Moon against the Sun at each stage.
How to use altitude & direction to find in the sky
This total solar eclipse was fully visible in Xi'an. This was a rare and spectacular event that could only be experienced along a relatively narrow strip on the Earth's surface. The eclipse was also visible in other areas, but the Moon did not cover the Sun completely there.
Where the Eclipse Was Seen
Try our new interactive eclipse maps. Zoom in and search for accurate eclipse times and visualizations for any location.
Cloud Coverage (Aug 1)
In the past, this day was cloudy 63% of the time (since 2000).
Solar Eclipses
- When Is the Next Solar Eclipse?
- Different Types of Eclipses
- What Are Solar Eclipses?
- How Often Do Solar Eclipses Occur?
- Total Solar Eclipses
- What Happens at a Total Solar Eclipse?
- Partial Solar Eclipses
- Annular Solar Eclipses
- What Happens at an Annular Eclipse?
- Hybrid Solar Eclipses
- Eclipse Seasons
- Solar Eclipses in History
- Solar Eclipse Myths
- Magnitude of Eclipses
- Accuracy of Our Eclipse Calculations
Protect Your Eyes! Find out how to safely watch solar eclipses here
Never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection. You can seriously hurt your eyes, and even go blind… read more
Eclipses and Transits Visible in Xi'an
| Eclipse Visibility From Xi'an | Visibility Worldwide | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16–17, 2000 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jan 10, 2001 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jul 5–6, 2001 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Dec 30, 2001 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| May 26, 2002 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jun 11, 2002 Partial Solar Eclipse | Annular Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Jun 25, 2002 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| May 7, 2003 Mercury Transit | Mercury Transit |  | |
| Nov 9, 2003 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| May 5, 2004 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jun 8, 2004 Venus Transit | Venus Transit |  | |
| Apr 24, 2005 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Oct 17, 2005 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Mar 15, 2006 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Sep 8, 2006 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Mar 4, 2007 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Mar 19, 2007 Partial Solar Eclipse | Partial Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Aug 28, 2007 Total Lunar Eclipse | Total Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Aug 1, 2008 Total Solar Eclipse | Total Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Aug 17, 2008 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jan 26, 2009 Partial Solar Eclipse | Annular Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Feb 9–10, 2009 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse |  | |
| Jul 22, 2009 Partial Solar Eclipse | Total Solar Eclipse |  | |
| Jan 1, 2010 Partial Lunar Eclipse | Partial Lunar Eclipse |  | |
Note: Click on the date link for details in Xi'an, or the path map image for global details. Currently shown eclipse is highlighted. | |||