A total solar eclipse occurred on June 24, 1778. 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.
The total eclipse was visible in a path across New Spain (some in present-day Mexico) and the southeastern United States and ended across northern Africa.
Observations This was the first total solar eclipse recorded in the United States. The track passed from Lower California to New England. According to Thomas Jefferson, the eclipse was clouded in his part of Virginia. He sent his notes to fellow astronomical observer and the President of the College of William & Mary, Reverend James Madison, who shared that conditions had been somewhat better in Williamsburg:"I was very glad to see your Observations, tho they differ considerably from those we made here. The same Misfortune of a cloudy Morning prevented us from seeing the beginning—but we had a very good View of the End which Mr. Page made at 11h 3' 25"—and myself at 11h 3' 27"—though I think the Altitude of the Sun was such as must render the Observations uncertain to a few Seconds. The End of total Darkness was at 45' 30"—This was pretty nearly determined, for the Return of Light was almost instantaneous. There was really something awful in the Appearance which all Nature assumed. You could not determine your most intimate Acquaintance at 20 yds distance. Lightning Buggs were seen at Night.
I began on the 17th to make corresponding Observations & had the Time very accurate. Rittenhouse got to Phila Time eno' to make an Observation, but he likewise saw only the End, and informs that it was at 11. 14' 40" [?] M. [?] Time. The Effect of the Parallax will doubtless make a considerable difference."Madison, James. 1778. Letter to Thomas Jefferson dated July 26. In Bishop James Madison Papers, University Archives, Swem Library, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg.General George Rogers Clark and his men observed the eclipse as they passed over the Falls of the Ohio on their way to take Kaskaskia during the Illinois Campaign, regarding it as a good omen.James, George Rogers Clark, 117. U.S. troops marching south through Georgia in an abortive attempt to invade British East Florida also subsequently recorded the event.Revolutionary War Pension Declaration of Sgt Caleb Johnson, Georgia, December 4, 1832, S.7081, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration This solar eclipse lasted four minutes over the middle Atlantic and New England States.
Related eclipses
Saros 133
Notes
References
NASA graphic Googlemap NASA Besselian elements
Solar Physics: Volume 216, Numbers 1–2 / September, 2003