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December 2011 lunar eclipse

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December 2011 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Totality as viewed from Singapore, 14:40 UTC
DateDecember 10, 2011
Gamma−0.3882
Magnitude1.1076
Saros cycle135 (23 of 71)
Totality51 minutes, 8 seconds
Partiality212 minutes, 15 seconds
Penumbral356 minutes, 21 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P111:33:36
U112:45:43
U214:06:16
Greatest14:31:49
U314:57:24
U416:17:58
P417:29:57

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Saturday, December 10, 2011,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.1076. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow. 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. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's shadow is smaller. Occurring about 4.8 days after apogee (on December 5, 2011, at 20:10 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.[2]

Visibility

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The eclipse was completely visible over east and northern Asia, Australia, and northern North America, seen rising over Europe and east and central Africa, and setting over North America.[3]


Hourly motion shown right to left
The Moon's hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Taurus.

Visibility map


Images

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NASA chart of the eclipse
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Asia

Australia and Oceania

a series of 27 images of the moon during the eclipse
Sequence from 20:12 Dec 11 until 00:19 Dec 12 (AWST, UTC +8) Serpentine Dam, Western Australia view right to left as the moon passed across the sky

Europe and Middle East

North America

Timing

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Times for Australia

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The eclipse occurred on Saturday evening in Australia. Eastern Daylight Saving Time: (+11:00 UTC)

  • Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 22:33:32 EDST
  • Partial Eclipse Begins: 23:45:42 EDST
  • Total Eclipse Begins: 01:06:16 EDST
  • Greatest Eclipse: 01:31:49 EDST
  • Total Eclipse Ends: 01:57:24 EDST
  • Partial Eclipse Ends: 03:17:58 EDST
  • Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 04:30:00 EDST

Times for India

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The eclipse was visible from India in the evening, given in India Standard Time (UTC+5:30):

  • Penumbral eclipse begins (P1): 17:04 IST
  • Partial eclipse begins (U1): 18:16 IST
  • Total eclipse begins (U2): 19:36 IST
  • Mid-eclipse: 20:02 IST
  • Total eclipse ends (U3): 20:27 IST
  • Partial eclipse ends (U4): 21:48 IST
  • Penumbral eclipse ends (P4): 23:00 IST

Times for North America

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The eclipse was visible on Saturday morning before sunrise over North America. For most location the moon set before full lunar eclipse. Only Alaska and northernmost Canada will be able to witness the entire event.

Contact North America UTC
AST
(UTC−9)		 PST
(UTC−8)		 MST
(UTC−7)		 CST
(UTC−6)		 EST
(UTC−5)
Penumbral begins (P1) 2:34 am 3:34 am 4:34 am 5:34 am 6:34 am 11:34
Partial begins (U1) 3:46 am 4:46 am 5:46 am 6:46 am 7:46 am 12:46
Totality begins (U2) 5:06 am 6:06 am 7:06 am 8:06 am 9:06 am 14:06
Mid-eclipse 5:32 am 6:32 am 7:32 am 8:32 am 9:32 am 14:32
Totality ends (U3) 5:57 am 6:57 am 7:57 am 8:57 am 9:57 am 14:57
Partial ends (U4) 7:18 am 8:18 am 9:18 am 10:18 am 11:18 am 16:18
Penumbral ends (P4) 8:30 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 11:30 am 12:30 pm 17:30
(Table entries are given a dark background for invisibility due to moonset)

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 10, 2011 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
Parameter Value
Penumbral Magnitude 2.18746
Umbral Magnitude 1.10757
Gamma −0.38819
Sun Right Ascension 17h08m35.0s
Sun Declination -22°54'38.7"
Sun Semi-Diameter 16'14.5"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.9"
Moon Right Ascension 05h08m33.9s
Moon Declination +22°33'13.3"
Moon Semi-Diameter 15'02.4"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0°55'11.7"
ΔT 66.7 s

Eclipse season

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See also: Eclipse cycle

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 November–December 2011
November 25
Ascending node (new moon)
 December 10
Descending node (full moon)
Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 123		 Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 135
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Eclipses in 2011

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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 135

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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

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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 142.

December 4, 2002 December 14, 2020

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "December 10–11, 2011 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)". timeanddate. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 2011 Dec 10" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 2011 Dec 10". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  5. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lunar eclipse of 2011 December 10.

Live Webcasts

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