October 1987 lunar eclipse

A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on Wednesday, October 7, 1987, the second of two lunar eclipses in 1987, the first being on April 14, 1987. The Moon approached within 0.00949% of its diameter outside of touching the Earth’s umbral shadow at maximum eclipse; 98.63% of the Moon's disc was partially shaded by the Earth, with the overall eclipse lasting 4 hours and 14 minutes. While less dramatic than a partial eclipse (as no part of the Moon was in complete shadow), a shading across the Moon should have been readily visible to observers. The Moon was just 3.1 days after perigee (Perigee on Sunday, October 4, 1987), making it 2.1% larger than average.[1]

October 1987 lunar eclipse
Penumbral eclipse
Date7 October 1987
Gamma1.01890
Magnitude0.98640
Saros cycle146 (9 of 72)
Penumbral253 minutes, 33 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P101:54:44.9
Greatest04:01:33.8
P406:08:17.9

Visibility

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Eclipses of 1987

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Lunar year series

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Lunar eclipse series sets from 1984–1987
Descending node   Ascending node
Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma
111 1984 May 15
 
Penumbral
 
1.11308 116 1984 Nov 08
 
Penumbral
 
−1.08998
121 1985 May 04
 
Total
 
0.35197 126 1985 Oct 28
 
Total
 
−0.40218
131 1986 Apr 24
 
Total
 
−0.36826 136 1986 Oct 17
 
Total
 
0.31887
141 1987 Apr 14
 
Penumbral
 
−1.13641 146 1987 Oct 07
 
Penumbral
 
1.01890
Last set 1984 Jun 13 Last set 1983 Dec 20
Next set 1988 Mar 03 Next set 1988 Aug 27

Half-Saros cycle

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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 153.

October 2, 1978 October 12, 1996
   

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 146
  2. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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