February 1989 lunar eclipse

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A total lunar eclipse took place on February 20, 1989, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 1989. [1]

[edit] Relation to other lunar eclipses

This lunar eclipse is part of series 123 of the Saros cycle, which repeats every 18 years and 11 days.

It is the third of five Metonic cycle eclipses, being separated by 19 years:

  1. February 21, 1951 - penumbral (Saros series 103)
  2. February 21, 1970 - partial (Saros series 113)
  3. February 20, 1989 - total (Saros series 123)
  4. February 21, 2008 - total (Saros series 133)
  5. February 20, 2027 - penumbral (Saros series 143)



The moon's path through the earth's shadow near its descending node progresses southward through each sequential eclipse. The fourth and fifth are total.


[edit] See also