December 1992 lunar eclipse
total
DateDecember 9, 1992
Gamma0.3144
Magnitude1.2709
Saros ser125
Saros no47 of 72
Totality73 minutes, 53 seconds
Partiality208 minutes, 45 seconds
Penumbral334 minutes, 5 seconds
P 120:57:01
U 121:59:45
U 223:07:10
Greatest23:44:06
U 30:21:03
U 41:28:29
P 42:31:05
PreviousJune 1992
NextJune 1993

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Wednesday, December 9, 1992,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.2709. 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 3.9 days before perigee (on December 13, 1992, at 21:05 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

According to Fred Espenak, this was the darkest eclipse in a decade, caused by the June 15, 1991 eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.[3]

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over northern North America, Europe, Africa, and west, central, and north Asia, seen rising over much of North America and South America and setting over the eastern half of Asia.[4]

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[5]

December 9, 1992 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.29154
Umbral Magnitude1.27090
Gamma0.31438
Sun Right Ascension17h08m34.5s
Sun Declination-22°54'48.3"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'14.5"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension05h08m35.3s
Moon Declination+23°13'09.8"
Moon Semi-Diameter15'54.8"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°58'24.2"
ΔT59.1 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.

Eclipse season of December 1992
December 9
Descending node (full moon)
December 24
Ascending node (new moon)
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 125		Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 151

Eclipses in 1992

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 125

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).[6] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 132.

December 4, 1983December 14, 2001

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "December 9–10, 1992 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)". timeanddate. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  3. ^ Totality - 1992 Dec
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1992 Dec 09". NASA. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  5. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1992 Dec 09". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  6. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros