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December 2009 lunar eclipse

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December 2009 lunar eclipse
Partial eclipse
Partiality as viewed from Munster, Ireland, 19:43 UTC
DateDecember 31, 2009
Gamma0.9765
Magnitude0.0779
Saros cycle115 (57 of 72)
Partiality59 minutes, 58 seconds
Penumbral251 minutes, 3 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P117:17:08
U118:52:43
Greatest19:22:39
U419:52:41
P421:28:11

A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Thursday, December 31, 2009,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 0.0779. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in the Earth's penumbra. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. Occurring only about 20 hours before perigee (on January 1, 2010, at 15:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

This eclipse was the last of four lunar eclipses in 2009, with the others occurring on February 9 (penumbral), July 7 (penumbral), and August 6 (penumbral).

This lunar eclipse was also notable, because it occurred during a blue moon (a second full moon in December) and was near perigee (making it a supermoon). The next eclipse on New Year's Eve and blue moon will occur on December 31, 2028.

Only a small portion of the Moon entered the Earth's umbral shadow, but there was a distinct darkening visible over the Moon's southern surface at greatest eclipse.

Visibility

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The eclipse was completely visible over Europe, Asia, and much of Africa, seen rising over eastern North America and setting over Australia and the Pacific Ocean.[3]


Hourly motion shown right to left

The Moon's hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Gemini.

Visibility map

Images

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NASA chart of the eclipse
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Progression from Degania A, Israel

Eclipse details

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Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]

December 31, 2009 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
Parameter Value
Penumbral Magnitude 1.05719
Umbral Magnitude 0.07793
Gamma 0.97660
Sun Right Ascension 18h44m37.2s
Sun Declination -23°02'33.1"
Sun Semi-Diameter 16'15.9"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.9"
Moon Right Ascension 06h45m22.4s
Moon Declination +24°01'10.3"
Moon Semi-Diameter 16'36.6"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 1°00'57.6"
ΔT 66.1 s

Eclipse season

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This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.

Eclipse season of December 2009–January 2010
December 31
Descending node (full moon)
January 15
Ascending node (new moon)
Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 115
Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 141
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Eclipses in 2009

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Metonic

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Tzolkinex

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Half-Saros

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Tritos

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Lunar Saros 115

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Inex

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Triad

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Lunar eclipses of 2009–2013

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This eclipse is the one of four lunar eclipses in a short-lived series. 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 2009–2013
Ascending node   Descending node
Saros #
Photo
Date
Viewing
Type
chart
Gamma Saros #
Photo
Date
Viewing
Type
chart
Gamma
110 2009 Jul 07
penumbral
−1.4916 115
2009 Dec 31
partial
0.9766
120
2010 Jun 26
partial
−0.7091 125
2010 Dec 21
total
0.3214
130
2011 Jun 15
total
0.0897 135
2011 Dec 10
total
−0.3882
140
2012 Jun 04
partial
0.8248 145 2012 Nov 28
penumbral
−1.0869
150 2013 May 25
penumbral
1.5351
Last set 2009 Aug 06 Last set 2009 Feb 9
Next set 2013 Apr 25 Next set 2013 Oct 18

Saros 115

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It was part of Saros series 115.

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).[5] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 122.

December 25, 2000 January 6, 2019

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "December 31, 2009–January 1, 2010 Partial Lunar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 2009 Dec 31" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 2009 Dec 31". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  5. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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