Wikipedia / May 1985 lunar eclipse
Wikipedia / May 1985 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Saturday, May 4, 1985, with an umbral magnitude of 1.2369. 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 only about 13.5 hours after perigee (on May 4, 1985, at 6:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This lunar eclipse was the first of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on October 28, 1985; April 24, 1986; and October 17, 1986.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over central and east Africa, eastern Europe, the western half of Asia, western Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over much of South America, west Africa, and western Europe and setting over east and northeast Asia and much of Australia.
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Eclipse details
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
Parameter | Value |
Penumbral Magnitude | 2.18702 |
Umbral Magnitude | 1.23687 |
Gamma | 0.35197 |
Sun Right Ascension | 02h47m17.2s |
Sun Declination | +16°07'37.7" |
Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'51.5" |
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
Moon Right Ascension | 14h47m52.0s |
Moon Declination | -15°47'45.9" |
Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'41.4" |
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'15.3" |
ΔT | 54.5 s |
May 4, 1985 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
Eclipse season
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.
May 4Descending node (full moon) | May 19Ascending node (new moon) |
Total lunar eclipseLunar Saros 121 | Partial solar eclipseSolar Saros 147 |
Eclipse season of May 1985
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1985
A total lunar eclipse on May 4.
Metonic
Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 17, 1981
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1989
Tzolkinex
Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1978
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992
Half-Saros
Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 29, 1976
Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 10, 1994
Tritos
Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1974
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1996
Lunar Saros 121
Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2003
Inex
Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 24, 1956
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014
Triad
Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 3, 1898
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 4, 2072
Lunar eclipses of 1984–1987
Metonic series
Saros 121
Tritos series
Inex series
Half-Saros cycle
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros). This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 128.
See also
Notes
External links