Solar eclipse: Timeline

1178 BC   A solar eclipse may mark the return of Odysseus, legendary King Monarch

A monarch is a type of ruler or head of state [i]. ... 

 of Ithaca, to his kingdom after the Trojan War. He discovers a number of suitors competing to marry his wife Penelope, whom they believe to be a widow, in order to succeed him on the throne. He organizes their slaying and re-establishes himself on the throne.

780 BC   The first historic solar eclipse is recorded in China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

.

763 BC   A solar eclipse at this date (in month Sivan) is used to fix the chronology of the Ancient Near East. However, it should be noted that it requires Nisan 1 to fall on March 20, 763 BC, which was 8 to 9 days before the vernal equinox (March 28/29 at that time) and Babylonians never started their calendar year before the spring equinox.

648 BC   Earliest Greek Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece is the period in Greek history [i] which lasted for around one thousand years and ended w ... 

-chronicled solar eclipse.

585 BC   A solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Thales, while Alyattes II Alyattes II

Alyattes II, king of Lydia [i] , the real founder of the Lydian empire [i], was the son of Sadyattes [i] ... 

 is battling Cyaxares. This leads to a tru This is one of the cardinal dates from which other dates can be calculated.

502 BC   Solar eclipse darkens Egypt Egypt

[i] country in [[North Africa]... 

. (computed, no clear historical record of observation)

1769   James Cook James Cook

Captain [i] James Cook, FRS [i], RN [i] was an English [i] explorer, navigator [i] ... 

 arrives in Tahiti Tahiti

Tahiti is the largest island [i] of French Polynesia [i], located in the archipelago [i] of Society Islands [i] ... 

 on the ship HM Bark ''Endeavour'', preparing to observe the solar eclipse of the planet Venus, which took place on June 3rd. After the voyage, the data was found to be inaccurate in determining the distance between the Sun Sun

|+ The Sun   |+ |- ... 

 and Earth Earth

Earth is the third planet [i] in the solar system [i] in terms of distance from the Sun [i], and the fi ... 

.

1769   A transit of Venus Transit of Venus

A transit of Venus across the Sun [i] takes place when the planet [i] Venus [i] passes directly be ... 

 is followed five hours later by a total solar eclipse, the shortest such interval in the historical past.

1912   Solar eclipse in Europe.

1919   May 29 — Einstein's Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was a German [i]-born theoretical physicist [i]. ... 

 theory of general relativity General relativity

General relativity is the geometrical [i] theory [i] of gravitation [i] published by Albert Einstein [i] ... 

 is tested/confirmed by Arthur Eddington's observation of a total solar eclipse in Principe and by Andrew Crommelin in Sobral, Ceará, Brazil Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest and most populous country [i] ... 

.

1919   November — Confirmation announced of Einstein's Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was a German [i]-born theoretical physicist [i]. ... 

 general relativity General relativity

General relativity is the geometrical [i] theory [i] of gravitation [i] published by Albert Einstein [i] ... 

 theory, tested by Arthur Eddington and Andrew Crommelin in total solar eclipse on May 29, 1919

1927   Total solar eclipse over Northern England and Wales

1932   Total solar eclipse visible from northern Canada through NE Vermont, New Hampshire, SW Maine, and the Capes of Massachusetts

1937   First total solar eclipse to exceed 7 minutes of totality in over 800 years; visible in the Pacific and Peru.

1991   A total Solar Eclipse is seen in(Hawaii Hawaii

Hawaii became the 50th state [i] of the United States [i] on August 21 [i], 1959 [i]. ... 

, Mexico Mexico

The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country [i] located in North America [i] ... 

, Central America Central America

Central America is the central geographic [i] region [i] of the Americas [i]. ... 

, Colombia Colombia

The Republic of Colombia , is the northwesternmost country of South America [i]. ... 

 and Brazil Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest and most populous country [i] ... 

).

1995   A total solar eclipse is visible from Iran, India, Thailand, and Southeast Asia.

2001   A total solar eclipse occurs. , Italy Italy

Italy, officially the Italian Republic , is a Southern European [i] country. ... 

.]]

2002   An annular solar eclipse occurs.

2002   A total solar eclipse occurs.

2003   A total solar eclipse is seen over Antarctica Antarctica

Antarctica is the southernmost continent and encompasses the South Pole [i]. ... 

.