A Lunar Eclipse Can Occur at Which Moon Phase(S)?
Introduction
What is an eclipse of the Moon? What causes eclipses and why? How often do eclipses happen and when is the next eclipse of the Moon? Yous'll learn the answers to these questions and more than in MrEclipse's primer on lunar eclipses.
The Moon is a cold, rocky torso nearly two,160 miles (iii,476 km) in bore. It has no calorie-free of its own but shines by sunlight reflected from its surface. The Moon orbits Earth most once every 29 and a half days. As it circles our planet, the irresolute position of the Moon with respect to the Sun causes our natural satellite to bike through a series of phases:
- New Moon > New Crescent > First Quarter > Waxing Gibbous> Full Moon >
Waning Gibbous > Last Quarter > Quondam Crescent > New Moon (once again)
Phases of the Moon.
The phase known as New Moon can not actually be seen considering the illuminated side of the Moon is then pointed abroad from Earth. The rest of the phases are familiar to all of united states of america as the Moon cycles through them month after month. Did you realize that the word month is derived from the Moon'southward 29.five twenty-four hour period catamenia?
Many early civilizations used the Moon'south monthly bicycle to measure the passage of time. In fact, some calendars are synchronized to the phases of the Moon. The Hebrew, Muslim and Chinese calendars are all lunar calendars. The New Moon stage is uniquely recognized every bit the outset of each calendar month just as it is the beginning on the Moon'southward monthly cycle. In comparison, the Total Moon phase occurs mid-way through the lunar calendar month.
The Total Moon is popularly known every bit the phase of beloved and romance. When the Moon is Total, it rises at sunset and is visible all night long. At the finish of the dark, the Full Moon sets just every bit the Sun rises. None of the Moon's other phases have this unique characteristic. It happens because the Moon is directly reverse the Lord's day in the sky when the Moon is Full. Full Moon also has special significance with regard to eclipses.
Geometry of the Dominicus, Earth and Moon During an Eclipse of the Moon
Globe's two shadows are the penumbra and the umbra.
(Sizes and distances not to scale)
Types of Lunar Eclipses
An eclipse of the Moon (or lunar eclipse) can only occur at Full Moon, and just if the Moon passes through some portion of Earth's shadow. That shadow is actually equanimous of 2 cone-shaped components, one nested inside the other. The outer or penumbral shadow is a zone where the Earth blocks part merely not all of the Lord's day's rays from reaching the Moon. In contrast, the inner or umbral shadow is a region where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.
Astronomers recognize three basic types of lunar eclipses:
- The Moon passes through Earth'due south penumbral shadow.
- These events are of only bookish interest because they are subtle and hard to discover.
- A portion of the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow.
- These events are like shooting fish in a barrel to see, even with the unaided eye.
- The entire Moon passes through World's umbral shadow.
- These events are quite hitting due to the Moon'south vibrant ruby colour during the total phase (totality).
ane. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
- (click for photograph example)
ii. Partial Lunar Eclipse
- (click for photo case)
3. Total Lunar Eclipse
- (click for photo case)
Now you might be wondering "If the Moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days and lunar eclipses but occur at Full Moon, then why don't we take an eclipse once a calendar month during Total Moon?". I'm glad y'all asked! Y'all see, the Moon'southward orbit around Earth is actually tipped about 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun. This ways that the Moon spends most of the time either above or beneath the plane of World's orbit. And the plane of Earth'south orbit around the Dominicus is important because Earth's shadows prevarication exactly in the same plane. During Total Moon, our natural satellite usually passes above or beneath Earth'south shadows and misses them entirely. No eclipse takes identify. But two to iv times each year, the Moon passes through some portion of the Globe's penumbral or umbral shadows and one of the above iii types of eclipses occurs.
When an eclipse of the Moon takes identify, anybody on the dark side of Earth tin see it. About 35% of all eclipses are of the penumbral blazon which are very difficult to find, even with a telescope. Another xxx% are partial eclipses which are piece of cake to see with the unaided eye. The final 35% or so are full eclipses, and these are quite extrordinary events to behold.
What is the difference between a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is an eclipse of the Lord's day. It happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sunday. This is only possible when the Moon is in the New Moon stage. For more information, see Solar Eclipses for Beginners.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 27-28
Beginning (right), middle (center) and end (left) of totality
(click to see photo gallery)
Why is the Moon Red During a Total Lunar Eclipse?
During a full lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the Sun'south light from reaching the Moon. Astronauts on the Moon would and then see the Earth completely eclipse the Sun. (They would run into a bright red band around the Earth as they watched all the sunrises and sunsets happening simultaneousely around the world!) While the Moon remains completely within Earth's umbral shadow, indirect sunlight still manages to accomplish and illuminate it. However, this sunlight must first pass deep through the Globe's atmosphere which filters out most of the blue colored calorie-free. The remaining light is a deep red or orange in colour and is much dimmer than pure white sunlight. World'due south atmosphere also bends or refracts some of this lite so that a pocket-sized fraction of it tin can attain and illuminate the Moon.
The total stage of a lunar eclipse is and then interesting and beautiful precisely considering of the filtering and refracting consequence of World'southward temper. If the Earth had no temper, then the Moon would exist completely black during a total eclipse. Instead, the Moon can accept on a range of colors from dark brownish and cherry to bright orange and yellow. The exact appearance depends on how much dust and clouds are present in Earth's temper. Full eclipses tend to be very dark later on major volcanic eruptions since these events dump large amounts of volcanic ash into Globe'southward temper. During the total lunar eclipse of December 1992, dust from Mount Pinatubo rendered the Moon near invisible.
All full eclipses first with a penumbral followed by a partial eclipse, and end with a partial followed by a penumbral eclipse (the full eclipse is sandwiched in the middle). The penumbral phases of the eclipse are quite difficult to run into, even with a telescope. However, partial and full eclipses are like shooting fish in a barrel to observe, fifty-fifty with the naked eye.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 January 20-21
Beginning (right), heart (centre) and end (left) of totality
(click to see more photos)
Observing Lunar Eclipses
Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch. Yous don't need whatsoever kind of protective filters. It isn't even necessary to use a telescope. You can picket the lunar eclipse with nothing more than your own two eyes. If you have a pair of binoculars, they will aid magnify the view and volition make the red coloration brighter and easier to come across. A standard pair of 7x35 or 7x50 binoculars piece of work fine. Remember to wearing apparel warmly and savor the spectacle!
Apprentice astronomers can really make some useful observations during total eclipses. Information technology's impossible to predict exactly how night the Moon will appear during totality. The color can also vary from dark gray or brownish, through a range of shades of ruby-red and bright orange. The color and brightness depend on the amount of dust in World's temper during the eclipse. Using the Danjon Effulgence Scale for lunar eclipses, amateurs tin categorize the Moon'south color and brightness during totality.
Another useful apprentice action requires a telescope. Using a standard list lunar craters, ane tin can careful measure the verbal time when each crater enters and leaves the umbral shadow. These crater timings tin can be used to estimate the enlargement of Earth'south atmosphere due to airborne dust and volcanic ash.
Of course, an eclipse of the Moon also presents a tempting target to photograph. Fortunately, lunar eclipse photography is easy provided that you have the correct equipment and use it correctly. See MrEclipse's Picks for camera, lens and tripod recommendations. For more than photographs taken during previous lunar eclipses, be sure to visit Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery.
Lunar Eclipse Frequency and Hereafter Eclipses
Penumbral eclipses are of fiddling interest considering they are hard to see. If we consider only partial and total lunar eclipses, how often do they occur?
During the five thousand year period from 2000 BCE through 3000 CE, in that location are vii,718 eclipses of the Moon (partial and total). This averages out to near one and a half eclipses each yr. Really, the number of lunar eclipses in a unmarried year can range from 0 to 3. The terminal time that three full lunar eclipses occurred in 1 calendar year was in 1982. Partial eclipses slightly outnumber total eclipses by 7 to 6.
The table below lists every lunar eclipse from 2022 through 2024. Click on the eclipse Date to see a diagram of the eclipse and a world map showing where it is visible from. Although penumbral lunar eclipses are included in this list, they are ordinarily hard to see because they are faint.
The Umbral Magnitude is the fraction on the Moon's diameter immersed in the umbra at maximum eclipse. For values greater than one.0, it is a total eclipse. For negative values, it is a penumbral eclipse. The Eclipse Duration column lists the length of the partial eclipse in hours and minutes. If it is a full eclipse, ii values are given. The commencement is the amount of time betwixt the offset and terminate of the partial phases while the second (in bold) is the length of the full eclipse.
| Eclipses of the Moon: 2022 - 2024 | ||||
| Date | Eclipse Blazon | Umbral Magnitude | Eclipse Duration | Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility |
| 2022 Jan 10 | Penumbral | -0.116 | - | Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus. |
| 2022 Jun 05 | Penumbral | -0.405 | - | Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus. |
| 2022 Jul 05 | Penumbral | -0.644 | - | Americas, sw Europe, Africa |
| 2022 November xxx | Penumbral | -0.262 | - | Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas |
| 2022 May 26 | Total | 1.009 | 03h07m 00h15m | e Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas |
| 2022 Nov 19 | Partial | 0.974 | 03h28m | Americas, due north Europe, due east Asia, Australia, Pacific |
| 2022 May 16 | Total | 1.414 | 03h27m 01h25m | Americas, Europe, Africa |
| 2022 Nov 08 | Full | 1.359 | 03h40m 01h25m | Asia, Australia, Pacific, Americas |
| 2023 May 05 | Penumbral | -0.046 | - | Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of australia |
| 2023 October 28 | Fractional | 0.122 | 01h17m | east Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia |
| 2024 Mar 25 | Penumbral | -0.132 | - | Americas |
| 2024 Sep 18 | Partial | 0.085 | 01h03m | Americas, Europe, Africa |
Geographic abreviations (used in a higher place): n = due north, southward = southward, e = east, w = west, c = cardinal
For an extended version of this table, see: Lunar Eclipse Preview: 2015-2035.
Upcoming lunar eclipses visible from the United states of americaA. include:
- May 26, 2021
- May 16, 2022
- November. 08,2022
Eclipse Publications
The five volumes of the Eclipse Annual publication series include maps and diagrams
of every solar and lunar eclipse from 2022 to 2070 (each volume covers a single decade).
Each vomume available in Black & White, Color, and Kindle editions.
Eclipse Resources
- Eclipses During 2020 - complete details on all eclipses in 2020
- Eclipses During 2021 - complete details on all eclipses in 2021
- Lunar Eclipse Preview: 2015-2035
- Half-dozen Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: 3000 BCE to AD 3000 CE
- Lunar Eclipses of Historical Interest
- Crater Timings and Lunar Eclipses
- Danjon Brightness Scale of Lunar Eclipses
- How To Photo Lunar Eclipses
- Exposure Tabular array for Lunar Eclipse Photography
- Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery 1
- Lunar Eclipse Photograph Gallery two
- Full Lunar Eclipse of 1982 Jul 06
- Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 January 20-21
- Total Lunar Eclipse of 2000 Jul 16
- Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 Oct 27-28
- Total Lunar Eclipse of 2014 Apr fifteen
- Solar Eclipses For Beginners
- Lunar Eclipses For Beginners
- Index to Eclipse and Astronomy Photographs
Lunar Eclipse Predictions
Lunar Eclipse Photography
Other Links
Source: https://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html
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