| Date | September 18, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Gamma | -0.9792 |
| Magnitude | 0.0869 |
| Saros ser | 118 |
| Saros no | 52 of 73 |
| Partiality | 62 minutes, 49 seconds |
| Penumbral | 246 minutes, 22 seconds |
| P 1 | 00:41:08 |
| U 1 | 02:12:51 |
| Greatest | 02:44:14 |
| U 4 | 03:15:40 |
| P 4 | 04:47:25 |
| Previous | March 2024 |
| Next | March 2025 |
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, September 18, 2024,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 0.0869. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in the Earth's penumbra. 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. Occurring only about 7 hours before perigee (on September 18, 2024, at 09:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger, resulting in a supermoon.[2]
This eclipse was the final partial lunar eclipse of Lunar Saros 118.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over North and South America, west Africa, and western Europe, seen rising over western North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean and setting over east Africa, eastern Europe, and west and central Asia.[3]
Visibility map |
Eclipse details
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Penumbral Magnitude | 1.03922 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.08685 |
| Gamma | −0.97920 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 11h44m09.7s |
| Sun Declination | +01°42'52.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'55.1" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 23h46m06.1s |
| Moon Declination | -02°35'26.7" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'42.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'20.4" |
| ΔT | 71.5 s |
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.
| September 18 Ascending node (full moon) | October 2 Descending node (new moon) |
|---|---|
| Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 118 | Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 144 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2024
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 25.
- A total solar eclipse on April 8.
- A partial lunar eclipse on September 18.
- An annular solar eclipse on October 2.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 30, 2020
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 2028
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 7, 2017
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 30, 2031
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of September 13, 2015
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 23, 2033
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 2013
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 19, 2035
Lunar Saros 118
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 7, 2006
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 29, 2042
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 8, 1995
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 29, 2053
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1937
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 21, 2111
Half-Saros cycle
A lunar eclipse will precede and follow by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[5] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 125.
| September 13, 2015 | September 23, 2033 |
|---|---|
See also
References
- ^ "September 17–18, 2024 Partial Lunar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 2024 Sep 18". NASA. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 2024 Sep 18". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros