str = SolarEclipsePositionName(nDate, nSunDataSourceIndex)
This macro function returns a text description of the position on Earth, on nDate, where a solar eclipse is maximal, using the Sun data source of index nSunDataSourceIndex.
➢If no solar eclipse occurs on nDate, then the function returns '' (a blank string).
The macro code below shows an example of the use of the function SolarEclipsePositionName.
if SolarEclipseOnDate(n_TokenDate, 1) > -1
nEclipseLatitude = SolarEclipsePositionMax(n_TokenDate, true, 1)
nEclipseLongitude = SolarEclipsePositionMax(n_TokenDate, false, 1)
sEclipseTypeName = SolarEclipseTypeName(EclipseType)
sEclipsePosition = SolarEclipsePositionName(n_TokenDate, 1)
sResult = EclipseTypeName + '(' + sEclipsePosition + ')'
else
sResult = 'No Solar eclipse today'
endif
The position names are based on the rough parceling out of the globe as in the chart below.
Min Lon/Lat Max Lon/Lat |
Name |
(-125, 25, -62, 49) |
Continental US |
(-170, 55, -130, 90) |
Alaska |
(-141, 60, -60, 90) |
Northern Canada |
(-141, 49, -60, 60) |
Canada |
(-165, 15, -50, 90) |
N. America, outside US and Canada |
(-90, -60, -30, 15) |
South America |
(-20, -35, 50, 35) |
Africa |
(-15, 55, 60, 90) |
Northern Europe |
(-15, 35, 60, 55) |
Europe |
(60, 0, 180, 90) |
Asia |
(0, -53, 90, 0) |
Oceania |
(113, -50, 180, -8) |
ANZ |
(-180, 0, -90, 60) |
North Pacific |
(-50, 0, -15, 60) |
North Atlantic, outside US |
(-180, 0, 180, 90) |
Northern Hemisphere, outside US |
(-60, -60, 0, 0) |
South Atlantic |
(-180, -75, -75, 0) |
South Pacific |
(-180, -90, 180, 0) |
Southern Hemisphere |
Note that some of the LonLat1/LonLat2 rectangles overlap, and the determination of the name is done from the top to the bottom of the chart, with the search for a name stopping as soon as the eclipse's position falls in one of the LonLat1/LonLat2 rectangles.
See also: SolarEclipseOnDate, SolarEclipsePositionMax, SolarEclipseTypeName, Solar Eclipse Types.
Topic 180055, last updated on 10-Jun-2026
