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August 2009 lunar eclipse

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Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
6 August 2009

This subtle penumbral eclipse covered the southern part of the Moon as shown in this animation by John Walker, viewed from Lignières, Switzerland.

The Moon grazed the Earth's southern penumbral shadow.
Series (and member) 148 (3 of 71)
Gamma 1.3572
Magnitude 0.4019
Duration (hr:mn:sc)
Penumbral 3:09:47
Contacts (UTC)
P1 23:04:21 (Aug 5)
Greatest 0:39:11
P4 2:14:08

The Moon's hourly motion west to east through the constellation of Capricornus and the northern edge of the Earth's penumbral shadow

A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on 6 August 2009, the third of four lunar eclipses in 2009. The Moon's small entry into the Earth's penumbral shadow produced an extremely subtle dimming of the Moon's southern edge, difficult to observe visually.

Visibility

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The eclipse was completely visible over Africa and Europe and South America. It was seen rising over eastern North America and setting over Asia.

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Eclipses of 2009

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Lunar year cycles (354 days)

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The lunar year series repeats after 12 lunations or 354 days (Shifting back about 10 days in sequential years). Because of the date shift, the Earth's shadow will be about 11 degrees west in sequential events.

Lunar eclipse series sets from 2006–2009
Descending node   Ascending node
Saros #
and photo
Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma Saros #
and photo
Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma
113
2006 Mar 14
penumbral
1.0211 118
2006 Sep 7
partial
−0.9262
123
2007 Mar 03
total
0.3175 128
2007 Aug 28
total
−0.2146
133
2008 Feb 21
total
−0.3992 138
2008 Aug 16
partial
0.5646
143
2009 Feb 09
penumbral
−1.0640 148
2009 Aug 06
penumbral
1.3572
Last set 2005 Apr 24 Last set 2005 Oct 17
Next set 2009 Dec 31 Next set 2009 Jul 07


Half-Saros cycle

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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 155.

31 July 2000 11 August 2018

Eclipse season

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This is the third eclipse this season.

First eclipse this season: 7 July 2009 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Second eclipse this season: 22 July 2009 Total Solar Eclipse

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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  • John Walker (7 August 2009). "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Imaged". Retrieved 23 August 2009. The eclipse was captured with two digital photographs and combined into one gif file.
  • 2009 Aug 06 chart: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC