October 1985 lunar eclipse
total
DateOctober 28, 1985
Gamma−0.4022
Magnitude1.0736
Saros ser126
Saros no44 of 72
Totality43 minutes, 52 seconds
Partiality214 minutes, 57 seconds
Penumbral365 minutes, 3 seconds
P 114:39:51
U 115:54:53
U 217:20:26
Greatest17:42:22
U 318:04:18
U 419:29:50
P 420:44:54
PreviousMay 1985
NextApril 1986

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, October 28, 1985,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.0736. 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 October 29, 1985, at 21:50 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.[2]

This lunar eclipse was the second of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on May 4, 1985; April 24, 1986; and October 17, 1986.

Visibility

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

Eclipse details

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

October 28, 1985 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.16733
Umbral Magnitude1.07357
Gamma−0.40218
Sun Right Ascension14h11m49.8s
Sun Declination-13°16'24.9"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'06.1"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension02h12m27.9s
Moon Declination+12°56'45.9"
Moon Semi-Diameter14'43.3"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°54'01.6"
ΔT54.8 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 October–November 1985
October 28
Ascending node (full moon)
November 12
Descending node (new moon)
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 126		Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 152

Eclipses in 1985

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.

October 23, 1976November 3, 1994

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "October 28–29, 1985 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)". timeanddate. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  3. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1985 Oct 28". NASA. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1985 Oct 28". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  5. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros