| Type: | penumbral |
| Date: | October 28, 2042 |
| Saros Ser: | 156 |
| Saros No: | − of 81 |
| Penumbral: | 2 minutes, 0 seconds |
| P1: | 19:32:00 |
| Greatest: | 19:33:00 |
| P4: | 19:34:00 |
| Previous: | September 2042 |
| Next: | March 2043 |
A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, October 28, 2042.[1] 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 only about 12 hours before perigee (on October 28, 2042, at 7:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter will be larger.[2]
This event marks the beginning of lunar saros cycle 156 according to some sources, and will be visually imperceptible to the naked eye. Many other sources denote this eclipse as a miss.[3]
According to some sources, it will be the last of 5 metonic cycle eclipses occurring every 19 years on October 28, while the other sources calculate the Moon will miss the shadow.
The eclipse will be completely visible over much of Africa, Europe, Asia, and western Australia.
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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.
This eclipse (depending on definitions) is the last of four Metonic cycle lunar eclipses on the same date, October 28–29, each separated by 19 years: