<Tr> <Th> Saros </Th> <Td> 136 (36 of 71) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Catalog #(SE5000) </Th> <Td> 9489 </Td> </Tr> <P> A total solar eclipse occurred on July 11, 1991 . A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth . A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness . Totality occurs in a narrow path across Earth's surface, with the partial solar eclipse visible over a surrounding region thousands of kilometres wide . Totality began over the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii moving across Mexico, down through Central America and across South America ending over Brazil . It lasted for 6 minutes and 53 seconds at the point of maximum eclipse . There will not be a longer total eclipse until June 13, 2132 . </P> <P> This eclipse was the most central total eclipse in 800 years, with a gamma of -. 0041 . There will not be a more central eclipse for another 800 years . Its magnitude was also greater than any eclipse since the 6th century . </P>

When was the last time there was an eclipse in mexico