November 2003 lunar eclipse
total
DateNovember 9, 2003
Gamma−0.4319
Magnitude1.0197
Saros ser126
Saros no45 of 72
Totality21 minutes, 58 seconds
Partiality211 minutes, 25 seconds
Penumbral363 minutes, 9 seconds
P 122:16:59
U 123:32:50
U 21:07:34
Greatest1:18:34
U 31:29:32
U 43:04:15
P 44:20:08
PreviousMay 2003
NextMay 2004

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Sunday, November 9, 2003,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.0197. 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 apogee (on November 10, 2003, at 7:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.[2]

This lunar eclipse is the second of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on May 16, 2003; May 4, 2004; and October 28, 2004.

This was the last of 14 total lunar eclipses of Lunar Saros 126, which started on June 19, 1769 and ended on November 9, 2003.

Visibility

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


Hourly motion shown right to left

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

Eclipse details

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

November 9, 2003 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.11575
Umbral Magnitude1.01969
Gamma−0.43193
Sun Right Ascension14h54m59.9s
Sun Declination-16°41'23.6"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'08.7"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension02h55m37.1s
Moon Declination+16°19'48.8"
Moon Semi-Diameter14'43.8"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°54'03.6"
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 November 2003
November 9
Ascending node (full moon)
November 23
Descending node (new moon)
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 126		Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 152

Eclipses in 2003

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 126

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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 133.

November 3, 1994November 13, 2012

See also

References

  1. ^ "November 8–9, 2003 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 2003 Nov 09". NASA. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003 Nov 09". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  5. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros