May 2004 lunar eclipse
total
DateMay 4, 2004
Gamma−0.3132
Magnitude1.3035
Saros ser131
Saros no33 of 72
Totality75 minutes, 28 seconds
Partiality203 minutes, 12 seconds
Penumbral315 minutes, 43 seconds
P 117:52:54
U 118:48:38
U 219:52:29
Greatest20:30:13
U 321:07:57
U 422:11:50
P 423:08:03
PreviousNovember 2003
NextOctober 2004

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Tuesday, May 4, 2004,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.3035. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow. 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. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's shadow is smaller. Occurring about 1.2 days before perigee (on May 6, 2004, at 0:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

This lunar eclipse is the third of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on May 16, 2003; November 9, 2003; and October 28, 2004.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over much of Africa, eastern Europe, Antarctica, and Asia, central, and south Asia, seen rising over South America, western Europe, and west Africa and setting over east Asia and Australia.[3]


Hourly motion shown right to left

The moon's hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Libra.

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]

May 4, 2004 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.26449
Umbral Magnitude1.30536
Gamma−0.31320
Sun Right Ascension02h48m55.8s
Sun Declination+16°14'51.5"
Sun Semi-Diameter15'51.5"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.7"
Moon Right Ascension14h48m25.1s
Moon Declination-16°32'22.6"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'32.0"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax1°00'40.8"
ΔT64.5 s

Eclipse season

See also: Eclipse cycle

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.

Eclipse season of April–May 2004
April 19
Ascending node (new moon)
May 4
Descending node (full moon)
Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 119		Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 131

Eclipses in 2004

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 131

Inex

Triad

Half-Saros cycle

A 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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 138.

April 29, 1995May 10, 2013

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "May 4–5, 2004 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)". timeanddate. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 May 04". NASA. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 May 04". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros