August 1971 lunar eclipse
total
DateAugust 6, 1971
Gamma−0.0794
Magnitude1.7283
Saros ser128
Saros no38 of 71
Totality99 minutes, 25 seconds
Partiality215 minutes, 30 seconds
Penumbral327 minutes, 17 seconds
P 116:59:29
U 117:55:26
U 218:53:28
Greatest19:43:10
U 320:32:53
U 421:30:56
P 422:26:46
PreviousFebruary 1971
NextJanuary 1972

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, August 6, 1971,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.7283. It was a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. 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 2.3 days before perigee (on August 9, 1971, at 2:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over central and east Africa, much of Asia, western Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over central and eastern South America, Europe, and west Africa and setting over east and northeast Asia and eastern 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]

August 6, 1971 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.69580
Umbral Magnitude1.72830
Gamma−0.07944
Sun Right Ascension09h04m36.6s
Sun Declination+16°43'16.0"
Sun Semi-Diameter15'46.2"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.7"
Moon Right Ascension21h04m44.2s
Moon Declination-16°47'39.7"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'17.9"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°59'49.1"
ΔT41.8 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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.

Eclipse season of July–August 1971
July 22
Descending node (new moon)
August 6
Ascending node (full moon)
August 20
Descending node (new moon)
Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 116		Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 128		Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 154

Eclipses in 1971

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 128

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 135.

July 31, 1962August 10, 1980

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "August 6–7, 1971 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)". timeanddate. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1971 Aug 06". NASA. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1971 Aug 06". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  5. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros