March 2024 lunar eclipse explained

Type:penumbral
Date:March 25, 2024
Gamma:1.0609
Magnitude:−0.1304
Saros Ser:113
Saros No:64 of 71
Penumbral:279 minutes, 9 seconds
P1:04:53:11
Greatest:07:12:45
P4:09:32:18
Previous:October 2023
Next:September 2024

A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Monday, March 25, 2024,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.1304. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into 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 about 2.2 days before apogee (on March 23, 2024, at 11:45 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.[2]

This the deepest penumbral eclipse overall since May 5, 2023, and the deepest for North and South America since February 11, 2017.[3]

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over North and South America, seen rising over eastern Australia and northeast Asia and setting over west Africa and western Europe.[4]

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[5]

March 25, 2024 Lunar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Penumbral Magnitude0.95767
Umbral Magnitude−0.13044
Gamma1.06098
Sun Right Ascension00h18m49.9s
Sun Declination+02°02'16.6"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'02.2"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension12h20m41.3s
Moon Declination-01°12'05.6"
Moon Semi-Diameter14'44.3"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°54'05.4"
ΔT71.2 s

Eclipse season

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.

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2024

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 113

Inex

Triad

Saros 113

It is part of Saros cycle 113.

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[6] This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 120.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March 24–25, 2024 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. timeanddate. 18 November 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 18 November 2024.
  3. http://www.hermit.org/Eclipse/gen_stats.cgi?mode=query&page=full&qtype=type&body=L&saros=113 Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 113
  4. Web site: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2024 Mar 25. NASA. 18 November 2024.
  5. Web site: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2024 Mar 25. EclipseWise.com. 18 November 2024.
  6. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros