A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit between Tuesday, February 13 and Wednesday, February 14, 1934, with a magnitude of 1.0321. 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. Occurring only 1.6 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.