Solar eclipse of April 16, 1893  A total solar eclipse occurred on April 16, 1893. 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. Schaeberle observed the eclipse and made drawings of the Corona: According to Edward S. Holden, John Martin Schaeberle discovered a comet like object on the plates of the eclipse from Chili. The comet was 0.8 moondiameters from the moon.