A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on Wednesday, April 2, 1969, the first of three penumbral lunar eclipses in 1969, the second being on Wednesday, August 27, and the last being on Thursday, September 25. This subtle penumbral eclipse may have been visible to a skilled observer at maximum eclipse. 70.337% of the Moon's disc was partially shaded by the Earth (none of it was in total shadow), which caused a gentle shadow gradient across its disc at maximum; the eclipse as a whole lasted 3 hours, 43 minutes and 46.9 seconds. Occurring only 4.2 days before perigee (Perigee on Monday, April 7, 1969), the Moon's apparent diameter was 0.9% larger than average.[1]
| Penumbral eclipse | |||||||||
| Date | 2 April 1969 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | −1.17648 | ||||||||
| Magnitude | 0.70337 | ||||||||
| Saros cycle | 141 (21 of 73) | ||||||||
| Penumbral | 223 minutes, 46.9 seconds | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Visibility edit
It was completely visible over Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Member edit
This is the 21st member of Lunar Saros 141. The previous event was the March 1951 lunar eclipse. The next event is the April 1987 lunar eclipse.
Related lunar eclipses edit
Lunar year series edit
| Lunar eclipse series sets from 1966–1969 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descending node | Ascending node | |||||||
| Saros | Date Viewing |
Type Chart |
Gamma | Saros | Date Viewing |
Type Chart |
Gamma | |
| 111 | 1966 May 4
|
Penumbral
|
1.05536 | 116 | 1966 Oct 29
|
Penumbral
|
−1.05999 | |
| 121 | 1967 Apr 24
|
Total
|
0.29722 | 126 | 1967 Oct 18
|
Total
|
−0.36529 | |
| 131 | 1968 Apr 13
|
Total
|
−0.41732 | 136 | 1968 Oct 6
|
Total
|
0.36054 | |
| 141 | 1969 Apr 2
|
Penumbral
|
−1.17648 | 146 | 1969 Sep 25
|
Penumbral
|
1.06558 | |
| Last set | 1965 Jun 14 | Last set | 1965 Dec 8 | |||||
| Next set | 1970 Feb 21 | Next set | 1969 Aug 27 | |||||
Saros series edit
Lunar Saros 141, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 72 lunar eclipse events including 26 total lunar eclipses.
First Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 1608 Aug 25
First Partial Lunar Eclipse: 2041 May 16
First Total Lunar Eclipse: 2167 Aug 01
First Central Lunar Eclipse: 2221 Sep 02
Greatest Eclipse of the Lunar Saros 141: 2293 Oct 16
Last Central Lunar Eclipse: 2546 Mar 18
Last Total Lunar Eclipse: 2618 May 1
Last Partial Lunar Eclipse: 2744 Jul 16
Last Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 2888 Oct 11
1901-2100
April 1969 lunar eclipse
Half-Saros cycle edit
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[2] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 148.
| March 27, 1960 | April 7, 1978 |
|---|---|
|
|
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 141
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
External links edit
- 1969 Apr 02 chart Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
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