May 1976 lunar eclipse

Last updated
May 1976 lunar eclipse
Partial eclipse
Date13 May 1976
Gamma 0.95860
Magnitude 0.12170
Saros cycle 140 (23 of 79)
Partiality75 minutes, 23.8 seconds
Penumbral251 minutes, 54.4 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P117:48:22.8
U119:16:36.2
Greatest19:54:21.1
U420:32:00.0
P422:00:17.2

A partial lunar eclipse took place on Thursday, May 13, 1976, the first of two lunar eclipses in 1976, the second being a penumbral lunar eclipse on November 6, 1976. At maximum eclipse, a small bite out of the Moon should have been visible. The eclipse lasted for 1 hour, 15 minutes and 23.8 seconds, with just 12.17% of the Moon in shadow at maximum. Occurring only 1.1 days after perigee (Perigee on Wednesday, May 12, 1976), the Moon's apparent diameter 5.4% larger than average. [1]

Contents

Eclipse season

This is the second eclipse this season.

First eclipse this season: Annular solar eclipse of April 29, 1976

Saros series

Lunar Saros 140, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 77 lunar eclipse events including 28 total lunar eclipses. This is the 22nd member of Lunar Saros 140. The previous event was the May 1958 lunar eclipse. The next event is the May 1994 lunar eclipse.

Previous event: Partial Lunar Eclipse on Saturday, May 3, 1958

This event: Partial Lunar Eclipse on Thursday, May 13, 1976

Next event: Partial Lunar Eclipse on Wednesday, May 25, 1994

Visibility

It was completely visible over South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, seen rising over South America, Europe and Africa, and setting over Asia and Australia. At the greatest eclipse about 12.17% of the Moon was covered by the Earth's shadow.

Lunar eclipse from moon-1976May13.png

Eclipses in 1976

Lunar year series

Lunar eclipse series sets from 1973–1976
Ascending node Descending node
Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
GammaSarosDate
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma
110 1973 Jun 15
Lunar eclipse from moon-1973Jun15.png
Penumbral
Lunar eclipse chart close-1973Jun15.png
−1.32166115 1973 Dec 10
Lunar eclipse from moon-1973Dec10.png
Partial
Lunar eclipse chart close-1973Dec10.png
0.96441
120 1974 Jun 04
Lunar eclipse from moon-1974Jun04.png
Partial
Lunar eclipse chart close-1974Jun04.png
−0.54887125 1974 Nov 29
Lunar eclipse from moon-1974Nov29.png
Total
Lunar eclipse chart close-1974Nov29.png
0.30540
130 1975 May 25
Lunar eclipse from moon-1975May25.png
Total
Lunar eclipse chart close-1975May25.png
0.23674135 1975 Nov 18
Lunar eclipse from moon-1975Nov18.png
Total
Lunar eclipse chart close-1975Nov18.png
−0.41343
140 1976 May 13
Lunar eclipse from moon-1976May13.png
Partial
Lunar eclipse chart close-1976May13.png
0.95860145 1976 Nov 06
Lunar eclipse from moon-1976Nov06.png
Penumbral
Lunar eclipse chart close-1976Nov06.png
−1.12760
Last set 1973 Jul 15 Last set 1973 Jan 18
Next set 1977 Apr 04 Next set 1977 Sep 27

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros). [2] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 147.

May 9, 1967 May 19, 1985
SE1967May09P.png SE1985May19P.png

See also

Notes

  1. Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 140
  2. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros


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