What happened in the 1991 eclipse?
July 11, 1991 (UNAM Global/Youtube -UNAM-DGCS)
The 1991 solar eclipse began on the west coast of Mexico, specifically in Baja California, and moved northeast, crossing states such as Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. For several minutes, the moon completely blocked sunlight, plunging entire cities into darkness during the day.
Canal 22 México – Facebook (Canal 22 México/Facebook)
Observers witnessed the sky gradually darken, while stars and planets became visible in broad daylight. The temperature dropped noticeably, and some animals reacted to the sudden change in light.
The 1994 eclipse
iStock (Hiraku mcfc/Getty Images)
The 1994 eclipse represented an important astronomical event in recent memory in Mexico and other parts of North America. On May 10, the moon partially came between the Earth and the sun, creating a celestial spectacle characterized by the formation of a “ring of fire.” This phenomenon, known as an annular solar eclipse and which is different from the total solar eclipse, captivated observers in both the United States and Mexico, extending its influence to a portion of Canada.
In Mexico, regions such as Baja California Sur, Baja California, Sonora and Chihuahua were privileged with the opportunity to witness this astronomical phenomenon. The skies were adorned by the presence of the ring of light, while in Canada, states such as Ontario, Nova Scotia and Quebec also witnessed this latest annular solar eclipse.
When was the last solar eclipse in Mexico?
The last solar eclipse in Mexico occurred on Saturday, October 14, 2023, when the Moon came between the Sun and the Earth, again creating an annular eclipse. This phenomenon was visible in a 200-kilometer-wide strip that ran through the American continent, including Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Brazil.
The ‘ring of fire’ was observable in the Yucatán Peninsula, specifically in southern Quintana Roo, southern Yucatán and northern Campeche. Among the notable sites to observe annularity were the cities of Campeche and Champotón, the ports of Celestún and Sisal, the archaeological zone of Uxmal, as well as Chetumal and Bacalar.
In other parts of the country, the phenomenon was perceived as a partial eclipse of the Sun, obscuring between 80% and 53% of sunlight, depending on the location of the observer in relation to the path of the eclipse. For example, in Mexico City, the Moon covered 70% of the solar disk, while in Monterrey, closer to the annular strip, solar darkness reached 83%.
