March 2044 lunar eclipse explained

Type:total
Date:March 13, 2044
Gamma:−0.3496
Magnitude:1.2050
Saros Ser:133
Saros No:28 of 71
Totality:66 minutes, 25 seconds
Partiality:209 minutes, 5 seconds
Penumbral:338 minutes, 23 seconds
P1:16:47:56
U1:17:52:31
U2:19:03:51
Greatest:19:37:05
U3:20:10:16
U4:21:21:35
P4:22:26:19
Previous:September 2043
Next:September 2044

A total lunar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Sunday, March 13, 2044,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.2050. 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 6.2 days after perigee (on March 7, 2044, at 15:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter will be larger.[2]

This lunar eclipse is the third of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on March 25, 2043; September 19, 2043; and September 7, 2044.

Visibility

The eclipse will be completely visible over east Africa, eastern Europe, and much of Asia, seen rising over west Africa, western Europe, and eastern South America and setting over northeast Asia and Australia.[3]

Eclipse details

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

March 13, 2044 Lunar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Penumbral Magnitude2.23223
Umbral Magnitude1.20503
Gamma−0.34957
Sun Right Ascension23h37m30.3s
Sun Declination-02°25'56.9"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'05.4"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension11h36m51.3s
Moon Declination+02°08'22.5"
Moon Semi-Diameter15'39.8"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°57'29.1"
ΔT81.5 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 2044

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 133

Inex

Triad

Half-Saros cycle

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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 140.

See also

References

  1. Web site: March 13–14, 2044 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon). timeanddate. 3 December 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 3 December 2024.
  3. Web site: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2044 Mar 13. NASA. 3 December 2024.
  4. Web site: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2044 Mar 13. EclipseWise.com. 3 December 2024.
  5. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros