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.
The region names are approximate geographical descriptions based on rectangular areas. Longitude and latitude are rounded to whole degrees before testing the areas below, from top to bottom. The first matching area determines the returned name.
➢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.
nComboResult = SolarEclipseOnDate(n_TokenDate, 1)
if nComboResult >= 0
nEclipseType = nComboResult div 1000000
sEclipseTypeName = SolarEclipseTypeName(nEclipseType)
sEclipsePosition = SolarEclipsePositionName(n_TokenDate, 1)
sResult = sEclipseTypeName + ' (' + 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.
Minimum longitude and latitude, maximum longitude and latitude |
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) |
Indian Ocean |
(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 11-Oct-2026
