December 1991 lunar eclipse

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The moon passes west to east (right to left) across northern edge of the Earth's umbral shadow, shown in hourly intervals. Lunar eclipse chart close-1991Dec21.png
The moon passes west to east (right to left) across northern edge of the Earth's umbral shadow, shown in hourly intervals.

A partial lunar eclipse took place on Saturday, December 21, 1991, the last of four lunar eclipses in 1991. The moon grazed the northern edge of the umbral shadow. It occurred near perigee, and as described, such event was known as a supermoon.

Contents

Visibility

This small partial eclipse was visible from North America, eastern Asia, Australia, and western South America.

Lunar eclipse from moon-1991Dec21.png

Eclipses of 1991

Lunar year series

Lunar eclipse series sets from 1991–1994
Ascending node Descending node
Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
GammaSarosDate
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma
110 1991 Jun 27
Lunar eclipse from moon-1991Jun27.png
Penumbral
Lunar eclipse chart close-1991Jun27.png
−1.40641115 1991 Dec 21
Lunar eclipse from moon-1991Dec21.png
Partial
Lunar eclipse chart close-1991Dec21.png
0.97094
120 1992 Jun 15
Lunar eclipse from moon-1992Jun15.png
Partial
Lunar eclipse chart close-1992Jun15.png
−0.62887125
1992 Dec 9
Lunar eclipse from moon-1992Dec09.png
Total
Lunar eclipse chart close-1992Dec09.png
0.31438
130 1993 Jun 4
Lunar eclipse from moon-1993Jun04.png
Total
Lunar eclipse chart close-1993Jun04.png
0.16376135
1993 Nov 29
Lunar eclipse from moon-1993Nov29.png
Total
Lunar eclipse chart close-1993Nov29.png
−0.39941
140 1994 May 25
Lunar eclipse from moon-1994May25.png
Partial
Lunar eclipse chart close-1994May25.png
0.89334145 1994 Nov 18
Lunar eclipse from moon-1994Nov18.png
Penumbral
Lunar eclipse chart close-1994Nov18.png
−1.10479
Last set 1991 Jul 26 Last set 1991 Jan 30
Next set 1995 Apr 15 Next set 1995 Oct 08

Metonic cycles (19 years)

The Metonic cycle repeats nearly exactly every 19 years and represents a Saros cycle plus one lunar year. Because it occurs on the same calendar date, the earth's shadow will be in nearly the same location relative to the background stars.

Ascending nodeDescending node
  1. 1991 Jun 27 - penumbral (110)
  2. 2010 Jun 26 - partial (120)
  3. 2029 Jun 26 - total (130)
  4. 2048 Jun 26 - partial (140)
  5. 2067 Jun 27 - penumbral (150)
  1. 1991 Dec 21 - partial (115)
  2. 2010 Dec 21 - total (125)
  3. 2029 Dec 20 - total (135)
  4. 2048 Dec 20 - partial (145)
Metonic lunar eclipse 1991-2067A.png Metonic lunar eclipse 1991-2048D.png

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros). [1] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 122.

December 15, 1982 December 25, 2000
SE1982Dec15P.png SE2000Dec25P.png

See also

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References

  1. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros