A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, March 23, 2016,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.3107. 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 2 days before apogee (on March 25, 2016, at 10:15 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.[2]
| Penumbral eclipse | |||||||||
 The hourly motion of the Moon shown right to left | |||||||||
| Date | March 23, 2016 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | 1.1592 | ||||||||
| Magnitude | −0.3107 | ||||||||
| Saros cycle | 142 (18 of 73) | ||||||||
| Penumbral | 255 minutes, 21 seconds | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Visibility
editThe eclipse was completely visible over Australia and western North America, seen rising over much of Asia and setting over central and eastern North America and western South America.[3]
|
Hourly motion shown right to left |
 Visibility map | |
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 | 0.77585 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.31071 |
| Gamma | 1.15916 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 00h12m02.0s |
| Sun Declination | +01°18'10.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'02.7" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 12h13m18.6s |
| Moon Declination | -00°18'21.4" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'46.0" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'11.6" |
| ΔT | 68.0 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.
| March 9 Descending node (new moon) |
March 23 Ascending node (full moon) |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 130 |
Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 142 |
Related eclipses
editEclipses in 2016
edit- A total solar eclipse on March 9.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 23.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 18.
- An annular solar eclipse on September 1.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 16.
Metonic
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 2012
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 10, 2020
Tzolkinex
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 9, 2009
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 5, 2023
Half-Saros
edit- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 19, 2007
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 2025
Tritos
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 2005
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 2027
Lunar Saros 142
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1998
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 3, 2034
Inex
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 1987
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2045
Triad
edit- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 23, 1929
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 23, 2103
Lunar eclipses of 2013–2016
editThe lunar year series repeats after 12 lunations or 354 days (Shifting back about 10 days in sequential years). Because of the date shift, the Earth's shadow will be about 11 degrees west in sequential events.
| Lunar eclipse series sets from 2013–2016 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending node | Descending node | |||||||
| Saros | Viewing date |
Type | Gamma | Saros | Viewing date |
Type | Gamma | |
112
|
2013 Apr 25
|
Partial
|
−1.0121 | 117_(cropped).jpg)
|
2013 Oct 18
|
Penumbral
|
1.1508 | |
122
|
2014 Apr 15
|
Total
|
−0.3017 | 127
|
2014 Oct 08
|
Total
|
0.3827 | |
132
|
2015 Apr 04
|
Total
|
0.4460 | 137
|
2015 Sep 28
|
Total
|
−0.3296 | |
| 142 | 2016 Mar 23
|
Penumbral
|
1.1592 | 147.jpg)
|
2016 Sep 16
|
Penumbral
|
−1.0549 | |
| Last set | 2013 May 25 | Last set | 2012 Nov 28 | |||||
| Next set | 2017 Feb 11 | Next set | 2016 Aug 18 | |||||
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 partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 149.
| March 19, 2007 | March 29, 2025 |
|---|---|
|
|
See also
edit- August 2016 lunar eclipse, the second 2016 lunar eclipse (penumbral)
- September 2016 lunar eclipse, the third 2016 lunar eclipse (penumbral)
- List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
References
edit- ^ "March 23, 2016 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2016 Mar 23" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2016 Mar 23". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
External links
edit- 2016 Mar 23 chart: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
- Hermit eclipse: 23 Mar 2016 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
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