March 1942 lunar eclipse
total
DateMarch 3, 1942
Gamma−0.1545
Magnitude1.5612
Saros ser122
Saros no52 of 75
Totality95 minutes, 54 seconds
Partiality219 minutes, 40 seconds
Penumbral344 minutes, 18 seconds
P 121:29:16
U 122:31:40
U 223:33:32
Greatest0:21:28
U 31:09:26
U 42:11:19
P 43:13:34
PreviousSeptember 1941
NextAugust 1942

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, March 3, 1942,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.5612. 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 5.5 days before perigee (on March 8, 1942, at 11:50 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over eastern South America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, seen rising over North America and west and central South America and setting over much of Asia and western Australia.[3]

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]

March 3, 1942 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.58789
Umbral Magnitude1.56118
Gamma−0.15453
Sun Right Ascension22h52m50.5s
Sun Declination-07°08'24.4"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'08.0"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension10h52m40.2s
Moon Declination+06°59'52.2"
Moon Semi-Diameter15'42.8"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°57'40.1"
ΔT25.4 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 March 1942
March 3
Ascending node (full moon)		March 16
Descending node (new moon)
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 122		Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 148

Eclipses in 1942

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 122

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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 129.

February 24, 1933March 7, 1951

See also

References

  1. ^ "March 2–3, 1942 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)". timeanddate. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1942 Mar 03". NASA. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1942 Mar 03". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  5. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros