A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, December 29, 1944,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.0176. It was a relatively rare total penumbral lunar eclipse, with the Moon passing entirely within the penumbral shadow without entering the darker umbral shadow. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into 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 about 6 days after perigee (on December 23, 1944, at 12:40 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]
| Penumbral eclipse | |||||||||
 The Moon's hourly motion shown right to left | |||||||||
| Date | December 29, 1944 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | −1.0115 | ||||||||
| Magnitude | −0.0176 | ||||||||
| Saros cycle | 114 (55 of 71) | ||||||||
| Penumbral | 266 minutes, 39 seconds | ||||||||
| |||||||||
This eclipse was the last of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 1944, with the others occurring on February 9, July 6, and August 4.
Saturn was conjunct with the Moon during this eclipse.
Visibility
editThe eclipse was completely visible over much of Asia, Australia, and northwestern North America, seen rising over Europe, east Africa, and the Middle East and setting over much of North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean.[3]
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Eclipse details
editShown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Penumbral Magnitude | 1.02198 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.01757 |
| Gamma | −1.01151 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 18h33m56.1s |
| Sun Declination | -23°12'58.6" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'15.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 06h34m05.9s |
| Moon Declination | 22°14'56.3" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'38.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°57'25.5" |
| ΔT | 26.9 s |
Eclipse season
editThis 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.
| December 29 Ascending node (full moon) |
January 14 Descending node (new moon) |
|---|---|
| |
|
| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 114 |
Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 140 |
Related eclipses
editEclipses in 1944
edit- A total solar eclipse on January 25.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 9.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 6.
- An annular solar eclipse on July 20.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 4.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on December 29.
Metonic
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1941
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1948
Tzolkinex
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1937
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 1952
Half-Saros
edit- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 25, 1935
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of January 5, 1954
Tritos
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 30, 1934
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1955
Lunar Saros 114
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 19, 1926
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 1963
Inex
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 20, 1916
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 10, 1973
Triad
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 27, 1858
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 30, 2031
Lunar eclipses of 1944–1947
edit| Descending node | Ascending node | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saros | Date viewing |
Type chart |
Saros | Date viewing |
Type chart | |
| 109 | 1944 Jul 06
|
Penumbral
|
114 | 1944 Dec 29
|
Penumbral
| |
| 119 | 1945 Jun 25
|
Partial
|
124 | 1945 Dec 19
|
Total
| |
| 129 | 1946 Jun 14
|
Total
|
134 | 1946 Dec 08
|
Total
| |
| 139 | 1947 Jun 03
|
Partial
|
144 | 1947 Nov 28
|
Penumbral
| |
Saros 114
editLunar Saros series 114, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 71 lunar eclipse events including 13 total lunar eclipses.
First Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 0971 May 13
First Partial Lunar Eclipse: 1115 Aug 07
First Total Lunar Eclipse: 1458 Feb 28
First Central Lunar Eclipse: 1530 Apr 12
Greatest Eclipse of Lunar Saros 114: 1584 May 24
Last Central Lunar Eclipse: 1638 Jun 26
Last Total Lunar Eclipse: 1674 Jul 17
Last Partial Lunar Eclipse: 1890 Nov 26
Last Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 2233 Jun 22
Half-Saros cycle
editA 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 121.
| December 25, 1935 | January 5, 1954 |
|---|---|
|
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See also
editNotes
edit- ^ "December 29–30, 1944 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1944 Dec 29" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1944 Dec 29". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
External links
edit- 1944 Dec 29 chart Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
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