| Type: | total |
| Date: | 4 May 1985 |
| Axis: | 0.3593° |
| Gamma: | 0.35197 |
| Magnitude: | 1.23687 |
| Saros Ser: | 121 |
| Saros No: | 54 of 84 |
| Totality: | 67 minutes, 41.5 seconds |
| Partiality: | 198 minutes, 57.6 seconds |
| Penumbral: | 310 minutes, 20.4 seconds |
| P1: | 17:21:14.4 |
| U1: | 18:16:54.8 |
| U2: | 19:22:33.0 |
| Greatest: | 19:56:24.1 |
| U3: | 20:30:14.5 |
| U4: | 21:35:52.4 |
| P4: | 22:31:34.8 |
| Previous: | November 1984 |
| Next: | October 1985 |
A total lunar eclipse took place on Saturday, May 4, 1985, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 1985, the second being on October 28, 1985.[1]
This lunar eclipse is the first of a tetrad, four total lunar eclipses in series. The last series was in 1967 and 1968, starting with an April 1967 lunar eclipse, while the next was in 2003 and 2004, starting with a May 2003 lunar eclipse.
It is seen rising over the whole of Africa, Middle East, Europe and Asia. The eclipse was sighted over the Philippines at night. The second also followed on October 28, 1985.
This eclipse is the second of four Metonic cycle lunar eclipses on the same date, May 4–5, each separated by 19 years:
It is a member of Saros cycle 121.
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[2] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 128.