August 2008 lunar eclipse

Partial lunar eclipse
2008/8/16
Saros (member) 138 (29)
Recent<S <T < > T> S>

Cape Town, South Africa

The moon passes right to left through the earth's northern shadow
Gamma[1] 0.5647
Duration (hr:mn:sc)
Partial 3:08:54
Penumbral 5:33:58
Contacts
P1 18:23:07 UTC
U1 19:35:45 UTC
Greatest 21:40:03 UTC
U4 22:44:38 UTC
P4 23:57:06 UTC

At ascending node in Capricornus

A partial lunar eclipse took place on August 16, 2008, the second of two lunar eclipses in 2008, with the first being a total eclipse on February 20, 2008. The next lunar eclipse was a penumbral eclipse occurring on February 9, 2009, while the next total lunar eclipse will occur on December 21, 2010.

Viewing


These simulated views of the earth from the center of the moon during the lunar eclipse show where the eclipse is visible on earth.

Parts of Australia saw it begin before sunrise, while parts of South America saw it end just after sunset. The eclipse is also seen in the Philippines and other parts of Asia at moonset. Parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa saw it when it is visible.

The penumbral eclipse began at 18:23 UTC, with the partial eclipse beginning at 19:36. The time of greatest eclipse was 21:10. The partial eclipse ended at 22:44, and the penumbral eclipse will ended at 23:57.

The planet Neptune was 2 days past opposition, visible in binoculars as an 8th magnitude "star" just two degrees west and slightly south of the moon.

Map

Relation to other lunar eclipses

Lunar year series

Lunar eclipse series sets from 2006–2009
Descending node   Ascending node
Saros #
and photo		 Date
Viewing		 Type
Chart		 Saros #
and photo		 Date
Viewing		 Type
Chart
113
 2006 Mar 14
 penumbral
 118
 2006 Sep 7
 partial
123
 2007 Mar 03
 total
 128
 2007 Aug 28
 total
133
 2008 Feb 21
 total
 138
 2008 Aug 16
 partial
143
 2009 Feb 9
 penumbral
 148
 2009 Aug 06
 penumbral
Last set 2005 Apr 24 Last set 2005 Oct 17
Next set 2009 Dec 31 Next set 2009 Jul 07

Saros series

Lunar saros series 138 has 19 total eclipses between September 7, 2044 and June 8, 2495. The longest eclipse will be on January 7, 2243, and last for 102 minutes.

Partial eclipses will occur between June 13, 1900 and August 13, 2603. Penumbral eclipses will occur between October 5, 1503 and March 30, 2982. [2]

Metonic cycle (19 years)

The Metonic cycle repeats nearly exactly every 19 years and represents a Saros cycle plus one lunar year. Because it occurs on the same calendar date, the earth's shadow will in nearly the same location relative to the background stars.

Metonic lunar eclipse sets 1951–2027
Descending node   Ascending node
Saros Date Type Saros Date Type
103 1951 Feb 21 Penumbral 108 1951 Aug 17 Penumbral
113 1970 Feb 21 Partial 118 1970 Aug 17 Partial
123 1989 Feb 20 Total 128 1989 Aug 17 Total
133 2008 Feb 21 Total 138 2008 Aug 16 Partial
143 2027 Feb 20 Penumbral 148 2027 Aug 17 Penumbral

Photo gallery

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Gamma is the minimum distance of the Moon's shadow axis from Earth's centre in Earth radii at greatest eclipse.
  2. ↑ Hermit Eclipse: Eclipse Saros 138

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lunar eclipse of 2008 August 16.