Solar eclipses
Fayetteville fell under the path of a total solar eclipse of the sun back on November 30, 1834. It was quite close to totality in 2024, but a partial eclipse just not the same. Its path included a wide swath of the state, stretching from Fayetteville to Helena. although cloudiness across most of the state prevented residents from seeing the eclipse directly but the darkness was still as dramatic.
The Weekly Arkansas Gazette included a note several days before the eclipse:
It may not be amiss to remind our readers, that a great Eclipse of the sun will take place Sunday, the 30th of the present month, commencing about 20 minutes after 12 M., and enduring about two and a half hours.
In its first edition after the eclipse, the Arkansas Gazette briefly reported on the eclipse:
“The Eclipse of the Sun, on Sunday last, was witnessed here in its fullest grandeur. It commenced about half past 11 a.m., and ended about 20 minutes after 2 p.m. — duration about 2 hours and 50 minutes. The obscuration of the sun was fully total for the space of about 2 1/2 or 3 minutes, commencing about 3 minutes before 1 o’clock. — One large star was visible for more than an hour, and we understand several others were seen. The weather was perfectly clear — not a cloud to be seen — affording a most excellent opportunity of witnessing this magnificent phenomenon of nature in all its sublimity.
Out on the western plains, the Rev. John Dunbar, who was living with Pawnees during the late fall and winter of 1834, described the eclipse in his journal:
To-day the great eclipse of the sun took place. It was stormy, and when the eclipse came on became quite dark. I do not recollect ever having witnessed so dark and gloomy a time during the day, at any previous period of my life. Several of the Pawnees came into my lodge, and said the sun was bad. They manifested considerable anxiety, and told me a bad thing had happened. They also told me that many of their wives and children would die after this event, and that it would be very cold. I told them the white people did not think that more than a usual number of women and children would die the ensuing season, or that it would be uncommonly cold. — What I said to them seemed somewhat to allay their fears. After they were gone out, I endeavored to explain the matter, to the old chief, and tell him how the eclipse was occasioned. He listened very attentively, and I think understood something of what I told him, for afterwards I saw him show others what I had shown him.”
After a similar eclipse in 1919, in which Fayetteville was outside the path of totality, the Arkansas Democrat reported:
Eclipse of Sun Not Seen Here
Little Rock was not given a chance to view the total eclipse of the sun Saturday afternoon. Early in the afternoon the heavy cloud banks gave the apearance of the approaching eclipse and ruined the view from this city. However, the effects of the eclipse were noticeable. At the time for totality at 6:36 it was too dark to read a newspaper outdoors, and it was necessary to turn on the lights in the homes and street cars. In a very short time after the path of totality reached here … or should … have of totality, the darkness disappeared with remarkable swiftness. A haze early Saturday morning gave local obsrevers (sic) a chance to predict that the eclipse would be obscured. The sun was not visible in the afternoon except for once right after the eclipse. Reports from over the State are that some of the towns in the path of totality had a good view while others had cloudy weather. A good view was had at Arkadelphia, where the eclipse was total.
Partial eclipses visible in Fayetteville include a recording of one on February 25, 1894. An item in the Fayetteville Democrat said Bob Maddox, a resident of Washington County, saw a partial solar eclipse with a wineglass bottle glass telescope. The one in this photo is not the actual device but an antique homemade telescope of that era.
Fayetteville Eclipses Since 1900
Solar Eclipses
- May 28, 1900 — partial
- Aug. 30, 1905 — partial
- Jan. 3, 1908 — partial
- June 28, 1908 — partial
- June 17, 1909 — partial
- April 28, 1911 — partial
- Feb. 3, 1916 — partial
- June 8, 1918 — partial
- Nov. 22, 1919 — partial
- Nov. 10, 1920 — partial
- Sept. 10, 1923 — partial
- Jan. 24, 1925 — partial
- July 9, 1926 — partial
- April 28, 1930 — partial
- Aug. 31, 1932 — partial
- Feb. 3, 1935 — partial
- April 19, 1939 — partial
- April 7, 1940 — partial
- July 9, 1945 — partial
- Nov. 23, 1946 — partial
- Nov. 12, 1947 — partial
- March 7, 1951 — partial
- Sept. 1, 1951 — partial
- June 30, 1954 — partial
- Sept. 20, 1960 — partial
- July 20, 1963 — partial
- May 9, 1967 — partial
- Sept. 11, 1969 — partial
- March 7, 1970 — partial
- July 7, 1972 — partial
- Dec. 24, 1973 — partial
- Dec. 13, 1974 — partial
- Oct. 12, 1977 — partial
- Feb. 26, 1979 — partial
- May 30, 1984 — partial
- Oct. 3, 1986 — partial
- July 11, 1991 — partial
- May 21, 1993 — partial
- May 10, 1994 — partial
- Feb. 26, 1998 — partial
- Dec. 25, 2000 — partial
- Dec. 14, 2001 — partial
- June 10, 2002 — partial
- April 8, 2005 — partial
- May 20, 2021 — partial
- Oct. 23, 2014 — partial
- Aug. 21, 2017 — partial
- Oct. 14, 2023 — partial
- April 8, 2024 — partial
- Jan. 26, 2028 — partial
- Jan. 24, 2029 — partial
Next Total Eclipse in 2045
The next full solar eclipse to be seen in Fayetteville won’t occur until April 12, 2045. The total eclipse that year is calculated to last 4 minutes and 18 seconds. Including the partial eclipse periods before and after the total eclipse, the entire period of the eclipse will last two hours and 36 minutes.
All times Central Daylight
- Partial begins at 10:41:27 a.m. — first contact
- Totality begins at 11:56:26 a.m. — second contact
- Maximum occurs at 11:58:35 a.m.
- Totality ends at 12:00:44 p.m. — third contact
- Partial ends at 1:17:52 p.m. — fourth contact
The total eclipse will last 4 minutes, 18 seconds, and together the partial and full will last 2 hours and 36 minutes.
Magnitude, which is a measure of how much of the sun’s disc will be covered by the moon’s shadow, is estimated to reach 1.013. A full eclipse, at minimum is measured at 1, and the Fayetteville eclipse will cover slightly more than the full width.
lunar eclipses
Upcoming full lunar eclipses for Fayetteville include:
- July 26, 2029
- October 8, 2033