A central lunar eclipse is a lunar eclipse in which part of the Moon passes through the center of Earth's shadow. [1] This type of lunar eclipse typically appears darker than other lunar eclipses. They are relatively rare in the 21st century as there only 24 of them, however they are statistically more common than non central lunar eclipses [2] . In order for a lunar eclipse to classified as a central lunar eclipse, its gamma must be between -0.2725 and 0.2725.
Central lunar eclipses are always total lunar eclipses and have large umbral eclipse magnitude, long duration and small value of gamma.
There were 20 central lunar eclipses in this period. [3]
Saros | Eclipse | Visibility | Chart | Gamma | Magnitude | Duration penumbral (min) | Duration partial (min) | Duration total (min) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
120e | 1902 Apr 22 | -0.2680 | 1.3327 | 364.4 | 224.6 | 84.6 | ||
125 | 1902 Oct 17 | 0.2201 | 1.4566 | 330.5 | 212.3 | 88.8 | ||
122 | 1906 Feb 09 | -0.1199 | 1.6254 | 342.9 | 219.5 | 97.8 | ||
127 | 1906 Aug 04 | 0.0477 | 1.7794 | 334.1 | 218.7 | 101.2 | ||
124e | 1909 Nov 27 | -0.2713 | 1.3660 | 323.0 | 206.5 | 81.2 | ||
121 | 1913 Mar 22 | 0.1671 | 1.5683 | 319.8 | 209.4 | 92.8 | ||
126 | 1913 Sep 15 | -0.2109 | 1.4304 | 373.1 | 230.6 | 93.5 | ||
123 | 1917 Jan 08 | 0.2415 | 1.3642 | 373.2 | 227.4 | 87.6 | ||
128 | 1917 Jul 04 | 0.1419 | 1.6185 | 323.0 | 212.8 | 96.0 | ||
125e | 1920 Oct 27 | 0.2502 | 1.3987 | 331.0 | 211.2 | 85.0 | ||
122 | 1924 Feb 20 | -0.1338 | 1.5995 | 343.7 | 219.7 | 97.1 | ||
127 | 1924 Aug 14 | 0.1175 | 1.6519 | 332.1 | 216.9 | 98.2 | ||
121 | 1931 Apr 02 | 0.2043 | 1.5021 | 318.0 | 207.9 | 89.6 | ||
126e | 1931 Sep 26 | -0.2698 | 1.3208 | 371.3 | 226.9 | 84.2 | ||
123 | 1935 Jan 19 | 0.2498 | 1.3499 | 372.2 | 226.7 | 86.3 | ||
128 | 1935 Jul 16 | 0.0672 | 1.7542 | 325.1 | 214.8 | 99.6 | ||
122 | 1942 Mar 03 | -0.1545 | 1.5612 | 344.4 | 219.7 | 95.9 | ||
127 | 1942 Aug 26 | 0.1818 | 1.5344 | 329.6 | 214.2 | 93.4 | ||
129b | 1946 Jun 14 | -0.2324 | 1.3983 | 369.3 | 229.1 | 91.1 | ||
121e | 1949 Apr 13 | 0.2474 | 1.4251 | 315.9 | 205.7 | 84.9 |
There were 13 central lunar eclipses in this period. [3]
Saros | Eclipse | Viewing | Chart | Gamma | Magnitude | Duration penumbral (min) | Duration partial (min) | Duration total (min) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
123e | 1953 Jan 29 | 0.2606 | 1.3314 | 371.1 | 225.8 | 84.5 | ||
128g | 1953 Jul 26 | -0.0071 | 1.8629 | 326.6 | 215.7 | 100.7 | ||
122 | 1960 Mar 13 | -0.1799 | 1.5145 | 344.9 | 219.4 | 94.0 | ||
127e | 1960 Sep 05 | 0.2422 | 1.4239 | 326.8 | 210.9 | 86.7 | ||
129 | 1964 Jun 25 | -0.1461 | 1.5565 | 372.2 | 233.3 | 100.8 | ||
128 | 1971 Aug 06 | -0.0794 | 1.7283 | 327.4 | 215.5 | 99.4 | ||
130b | 1975 May 25 | 0.2367 | 1.4253 | 336.0 | 215.2 | 88.3 | ||
122 | 1978 Mar 24 | -0.2140 | 1.4518 | 345.0 | 218.6 | 90.7 | ||
129 | 1982 Jul 06 | -0.0579 | 1.7180 | 374.0 | 235.6 | 105.7 | ||
128 | 1989 Aug 17 | -0.1491 | 1.5984 | 327.6 | 214.3 | 95.8 | ||
130 | 1993 Jun 04 | 0.1638 | 1.5617 | 336.4 | 217.9 | 95.8 | ||
122e | 1996 Apr 04 | -0.2534 | 1.3795 | 344.8 | 217.2 | 85.8 | ||
129g | 2000 Jul 16 | 0.0302 | 1.7684 | 374.5 | 236.0 | 106.4 |
There are 10 central lunar eclipses in this period. [4]
Saros | Eclipse | Viewing | Chart | Gamma | Magnitude | Duration penumbral (min) | Duration partial (min) | Duration total (min) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
128e | 2007 Aug 28 | -0.2146 | 1.4758 | 327.4 | 212.2 | 90.0 | ||
130 | 2011 Jun 15 | 0.0897 | 1.6999 | 336.2 | 219.3 | 100.2 | ||
129 | 2018 Jul 27 | 0.1168 | 1.6087 | 373.9 | 234.6 | 103.0 | ||
131b | 2022 May 16 | -0.2532 | 1.4137 | 318.8 | 207.3 | 84.9 | ||
136b | 2022 Nov 08 | 0.2570 | 1.3589 | 354.0 | 219.9 | 85.0 | ||
130g | 2029 Jun 26 | 0.0124 | 1.8436 | 335.2 | 219.6 | 101.9 | ||
129e | 2036 Aug 07 | 0.2004 | 1.4544 | 372.2 | 231.4 | 95.3 | ||
131 | 2040 May 26 | -0.1872 | 1.5348 | 321.5 | 210.8 | 92.3 | ||
136 | 2040 Nov 18 | 0.2361 | 1.3974 | 353.7 | 220.5 | 87.8 | ||
130 | 2047 Jul 07 | -0.0636 | 1.7513 | 333.6 | 218.6 | 100.8 |
There will be 14 central lunar eclipses in this period. [4]
Saros | Eclipse | Viewing | Chart | Gamma | Magnitude | Duration penumbral (min) | Duration partial (min) | Duration total (min) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
137b | 2051 Oct 19 | -0.2542 | 1.4118 | 314.3 | 204.3 | 83.6 | ||
131 | 2058 Jun 06 | -0.1181 | 1.6612 | 323.7 | 213.4 | 97.3 | ||
136 | 2058 Nov 30 | 0.2208 | 1.4260 | 353.1 | 220.7 | 89.7 | ||
130 | 2065 Jul 17 | -0.1402 | 1.6121 | 331.2 | 216.3 | 97.0 | ||
132b | 2069 May 06 | 0.2717 | 1.3230 | 368.2 | 226.2 | 84.3 | ||
137 | 2069 Oct 30 | -0.2263 | 1.4616 | 315.5 | 205.6 | 86.8 | ||
131 | 2076 Jun 17 | -0.0452 | 1.7943 | 325.5 | 215.1 | 100.2 | ||
136 | 2076 Dec 10 | 0.2102 | 1.4460 | 352.3 | 220.6 | 90.8 | ||
130e | 2083 Jul 29 | -0.2143 | 1.4773 | 328.1 | 212.9 | 90.4 | ||
132 | 2087 May 17 | 0.1999 | 1.4555 | 371.1 | 230.7 | 95.1 | ||
137 | 2087 Nov 10 | -0.2043 | 1.5006 | 316.3 | 206.6 | 88.9 | ||
131g | 2094 Jun 28 | 0.0288 | 1.8234 | 326.6 | 215.7 | 100.6 | ||
136 | 2094 Dec 21 | 0.2016 | 1.4627 | 351.3 | 220.5 | 91.6 | ||
133b | 2098 Apr 15 | -0.2272 | 1.4370 | 338.4 | 215.8 | 89.0 |
There will be 21 central lunar eclipses in this period.
Saros | Eclipse | Viewing | Chart | Gamma | Magnitude | Duration penumbral (min) | Duration partial (min) | Duration total (min) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
132 | 2105 May 28 | 0.1227 | 1.5977 | 373.2 | 234.0 | 102.4 | ||
137 | 2105 Nov 21 | -0.1875 | 1.5301 | 317.4 | 207.3 | 90.4 | ||
139b | 2109 Sep 09 | -0.2608 | 1.3568 | 355.3 | 221.6 | 85.6 | ||
131 | 2112 Jul 09 | 0.1055 | 1.6814 | 327.0 | 215.2 | 98.4 | ||
136 | 2113 Jan 02 | 0.1964 | 1.4735 | 350.2 | 220.2 | 92.1 | ||
133 | 2116 Apr 27 | -0.1746 | 1.5364 | 338.2 | 217.7 | 94.6 | ||
138b | 2116 Oct 21 | 0.2353 | 1.3943 | 360.6 | 223.9 | 88.8 | ||
132g | 2123 Jun 09 | 0.0406 | 1.7488 | 374.4 | 235.8 | 106.1 | ||
137 | 2123 Dec 03 | -0.1755 | 1.5507 | 318.1 | 207.8 | 91.4 | ||
134b | 2127 Mar 28 | 0.2664 | 1.3849 | 318.1 | 205.5 | 82.3 | ||
139 | 2127 Sep 20 | -0.2007 | 1.4672 | 356.3 | 224.2 | 93.5 | ||
131 | 2130 Jul 21 | 0.1803 | 1.5426 | 326.7 | 213.4 | 93.6 | ||
136 | 2131 Jan 13 | 0.1915 | 1.4842 | 349.0 | 219.9 | 92.5 | ||
133 | 2134 May 08 | -0.1152 | 1.6482 | 337.7 | 219.0 | 98.8 | ||
138 | 2134 Nov 02 | 0.2022 | 1.4522 | 363.2 | 226.0 | 93.0 | ||
132 | 2141 Jun 19 | -0.0446 | 1.7415 | 374.5 | 235.9 | 106.1 | ||
137 | 2141 Dec 13 | -0.1671 | 1.5652 | 318.8 | 208.2 | 92.0 | ||
134 | 2145 Apr 07 | 0.2285 | 1.4550 | 319.9 | 207.9 | 87.3 | ||
139 | 2145 Sep 30 | -0.1486 | 1.5628 | 356.6 | 225.7 | 98.2 | ||
131e | 2148 Jul 31 | 0.2554 | 1.4030 | 325.8 | 210.4 | 85.3 | ||
136 | 2149 Jan 23 | 0.1859 | 1.4962 | 347.8 | 219.6 | 93.0 |
There will be 24 central lunar eclipses in this period.
Saros | Eclipse | Viewing | Chart | Gamma | Magnitude | Duration penumbral (min) | Duration partial (min) | Duration total (min) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
133 | 2152 May 18 | -0.0511 | 1.7688 | 336.8 | 219.7 | 101.2 | ||
138 | 2152 Nov 12 | 0.1753 | 1.4989 | 365.5 | 227.5 | 95.8 | ||
140b | 2156 Aug 30 | 0.2569 | 1.4132 | 313.1 | 204.6 | 83.9 | ||
132 | 2159 Jun 30 | -0.1323 | 1.5809 | 373.5 | 234.1 | 102.0 | ||
137 | 2159 Dec 24 | -0.1619 | 1.5737 | 319.3 | 208.5 | 92.4 | ||
134 | 2163 Apr 19 | 0.1858 | 1.5338 | 321.6 | 210.2 | 91.8 | ||
139 | 2163 Oct 12 | -0.1026 | 1.6471 | 356.4 | 226.3 | 100.9 | ||
136 | 2167 Feb 04 | 0.1772 | 1.5143 | 346.5 | 219.5 | 93.8 | ||
133g | 2170 May 30 | 0.0174 | 1.8330 | 335.4 | 219.4 | 101.7 | ||
138 | 2170 Nov 23 | 0.1554 | 1.5331 | 367.3 | 228.7 | 97.7 | ||
135b | 2174 Mar 18 | -0.2605 | 1.3371 | 369.5 | 226.0 | 85.2 | ||
140 | 2174 Sep 11 | 0.1982 | 1.5197 | 315.1 | 207.3 | 90.3 | ||
132e | 2177 Jul 11 | -0.2199 | 1.4199 | 371.3 | 230.4 | 93.0 | ||
137 | 2178 Jan 04 | -0.1570 | 1.5820 | 319.9 | 208.8 | 92.8 | ||
134 | 2181 Apr 29 | 0.1345 | 1.6281 | 323.4 | 212.4 | 95.9 | ||
139 | 2181 Oct 22 | -0.0652 | 1.7157 | 355.8 | 226.4 | 102.2 | ||
136 | 2185 Feb 14 | 0.1660 | 1.5372 | 345.2 | 219.4 | 94.8 | ||
133 | 2188 Jun 09 | 0.0887 | 1.7045 | 333.3 | 218.0 | 99.8 | ||
138 | 2188 Dec 04 | 0.1394 | 1.5602 | 369.0 | 229.6 | 98.9 | ||
135 | 2192 Mar 28 | -0.2202 | 1.4120 | 371.2 | 228.8 | 91.6 | ||
140 | 2192 Sep 21 | 0.1453 | 1.6154 | 316.6 | 209.1 | 94.4 | ||
137 | 2196 Jan 15 | -0.1537 | 1.5877 | 320.4 | 209.1 | 93.1 | ||
134 | 2199 May 10 | 0.0792 | 1.7297 | 324.9 | 214.1 | 98.8 | ||
139 | 2199 Nov 02 | -0.0339 | 1.7731 | 355.0 | 226.1 | 102.7 |
A total lunar eclipse occurred on February 20 and February 21, 2008. It was visible in the eastern evening sky on February 20 for all of North and South America, and on February 21 in the predawn western sky from most of Africa and Europe. Greatest Eclipse occurring on Thursday, February 21, 2008, at 03:26:03 UTC, totality lasting 49 minutes and 45.6 seconds.
A total lunar eclipse took place on Sunday 9 November 2003, the second of two total lunar eclipses in 2003, the first being on 16 May 2003. It is the first total lunar eclipse of 21st century which happened on a micromoon day. The Moon barely edged into total eclipse for 21 minutes and 58 seconds. With the Moon just 1.78% of its diameter into the Earth's umbral shadow, the Moon may have been quite bright, but even so, this should have been worth seeing. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours, 31 minutes and 25 seconds. Occurring only 1.4 days before apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was 6.4% smaller than average.
A total lunar eclipse took place on 15 June 2011. It was the first of two such eclipses in 2011. The second occurred on 10 December 2011. While the visual effect of a total eclipse is variable, the Moon may have been stained a deep orange or red colour at maximum eclipse.
A partial lunar eclipse took place on 25 April 2013, the first of three lunar eclipses in 2013. Only a tiny sliver (1.48%) of the Moon was covered by the Earth's umbral shadow at maximum eclipse, but the entire northern half of the Moon was darkened from being inside the penumbral shadow. This was one of the shortest partial eclipses of the Moon for the 21st century, lasting 27 minutes. This was the last of 58 umbral lunar eclipses of Lunar Saros 112.
A total lunar eclipse took place on 4 April 2015. It is the former of two total lunar eclipses in 2015, and the third in a tetrad. Other eclipses in the tetrad are those of 15 April 2014, 8 October 2014, and 28 September 2015.
A total lunar eclipse will take place on May 26, 2040. The northern limb of the Moon will pass through the center of the Earth's shadow. This is the second central lunar eclipse of Saros series 131. This lunar event will occur near perigee, as a result, it will be referred to as a "super flower blood moon" or "super blood moon", though not quite as close to Earth as the eclipse of May 26, 2021.
A total lunar eclipse took place on Monday, October 28, 1985, the second of two total lunar eclipses in 1985, the first being on May 4, 1985.
A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on Tuesday, April 14, 1987, the first of two lunar eclipses in 1987, the second being on October 7, 1987. This subtle penumbral eclipse may have been visible to a skilled observer at maximum eclipse. 77.703% of the Moon's disc was partially shaded by the Earth, which caused a gentle shadow gradient across its disc at maximum; the eclipse as a whole lasted 3 hours, 54 minutes and 12.8 seconds. The Moon was just 4.6 days before perigee, making it 0.5% larger than average.
A partial lunar eclipse occurred on 19 November 2021. The eclipse occurred towards a micromoon. This was the longest partial lunar eclipse since 18 February 1440, and the longest until 8 February, 2669; however, many eclipses, including the November 2022 lunar eclipse, have a longer period of umbral contact at next to 3 hours 40 minutes. It was often referred to as a "Beaver Blood Moon" although not technically fulfilling the criteria for a true blood moon (totality).
A penumbral lunar eclipse will take place on May 7, 2031.
A total lunar eclipse will take place on June 28, 2094. The Moon will pass through the center of the Earth's shadow. While the visual effect of a total eclipse is variable, the Moon may be stained a deep orange or red color at maximum eclipse. With a gamma value of only 0.0288 and an umbral eclipse magnitude of 1.8234, this is the greatest eclipse in Saros series 131 as well as the second largest and darkest lunar eclipse of the 21st century.
A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on Wednesday, April 2, 1969, the first of three penumbral lunar eclipses in 1969, the second being on Wednesday, August 27, and the last being on Thursday, September 25. This subtle penumbral eclipse may have been visible to a skilled observer at maximum eclipse. 70.337% of the Moon's disc was partially shaded by the Earth, which caused a gentle shadow gradient across its disc at maximum; the eclipse as a whole lasted 3 hours, 43 minutes and 46.9 seconds. Occurring only 4.2 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was 0.9% larger than average.
A total lunar eclipse took place on Sunday, July 26, 1953.
A total lunar eclipse will take place on May 17, 2087. The moon will pass through the center of the Earth's shadow.
A total lunar eclipse will take place on May 6, 2069. The eclipse will be a dark one with the southern tip of the Moon passing through the center of the Earth's shadow. This is the first central eclipse of Saros series 132.
Gamma of an eclipse describes how centrally the shadow of the Moon or Earth strikes the other body. This distance, measured at the moment when the axis of the shadow cone passes closest to the center of the Earth or Moon, is stated as a fraction of the equatorial radius of the earth.
Saros cycle series 136 for solar eclipses occurs at the Moon's descending node, repeating every 18 years, 11 days, containing 71 eclipses, 56 of which are umbral. The first eclipse in the series was on 14 June 1360 and the last will be on 30 July 2622. The most recent eclipse was a total eclipse on 22 July 2009 and the next will be a total eclipse on 2 August 2027.
A total lunar eclipse will occur on Wednesday, June 9, 2123, with maximum eclipse at 05:06 UTC. A dramatic total eclipse lasting 106 minutes and 6 seconds will plunge the full Moon into deep darkness, as it passes right through the centre of the Earth's umbral shadow. While the visual effect of a total eclipse is variable, the Moon may be stained a deep orange or red colour at maximum eclipse. This will be a great spectacle for everyone who sees it. The partial eclipse will last for 3 hours and 56 minutes in total. The penumbral eclipse lasts for 6 hours and 14 minutes. Maximum eclipse is at 05:06:28 UT. This will be the longest Total Lunar Eclipse since 16 July 2000, and the longest one until 12 May 2264 and 27 July 3107, though the eclipse on June 19, 2141 will be nearly identical in all aspects. This will also be the longest of the 22nd century and the second longest of the 3rd millennium. The eclipse on June 19, 2141 will be the second longest of the 22nd century and the third longest of the third millennium.
The August 1859 lunar eclipse was a total lunar eclipse that occurred on Saturday, August 13, 1859. This was the second and last lunar eclipse in 1859, as well as the last lunar eclipse in the 1850's. The totality for this eclipse lasted 106 minutes and 28 seconds, the longest duration since May 3, 459. A totality of this length will not occur again until August 19, 4753. During the totality of this eclipse, the moon was in the constellation of Capricornus.