May 1976 lunar eclipse
| Partial eclipse | |||||||||||||
 The Moon's hourly motion shown right to left | |||||||||||||
| Date | May 13, 1976 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | 0.9586 | ||||||||||||
| Magnitude | 0.1217 | ||||||||||||
| Saros cycle | 140 (23 of 80) | ||||||||||||
| Partiality | 75 minutes, 23 seconds | ||||||||||||
| Penumbral | 251 minutes, 49 seconds | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Thursday, May 13, 1976,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 0.1217. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in the Earth's penumbra. 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. Occurring about 1.1 days after perigee (on May 12, 1976, at 17:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]
Visibility
[edit]The eclipse was completely visible over central and east Africa, eastern Europe, the western half of Asia, western Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over eastern South America, west Africa, and western Europe and setting over east and northeast Asia and eastern Australia.[3]
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Eclipse details
[edit]Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Penumbral Magnitude | 1.07612 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.12170 |
| Gamma | 0.95860 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 03h23m03.9s |
| Sun Declination | +18°33'49.8" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'49.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 15h23m42.3s |
| Moon Declination | -17°36'13.1" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'34.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'51.1" |
| ΔT | 46.9 s |
Eclipse season
[edit]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.
| April 29 Descending node (new moon) |
May 13 Ascending node (full moon) |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 128 |
Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 140 |
Related eclipses
[edit]Eclipses in 1976
[edit]- An annular solar eclipse on April 29.
- A partial lunar eclipse on May 13.
- A total solar eclipse on October 23.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on November 6.
Metonic
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1972
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 1, 1980
Tzolkinex
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1969
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1983
Half-Saros
[edit]- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 1967
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 19, 1985
Tritos
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1965
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 1987
Lunar Saros 140
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1958
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1994
Inex
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1947
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 2005
Triad
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 12, 1889
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2063
Lunar eclipses of 1973–1976
[edit]| Lunar eclipse series sets from 1973–1976 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending node | Descending node | |||||||
| Saros | Date Viewing |
Type Chart |
Gamma | Saros | Date Viewing |
Type Chart |
Gamma | |
| 110 | 1973 Jun 15
|
Penumbral
|
−1.32166 | 115 | 1973 Dec 10
|
Partial
|
0.96441 | |
| 120 | 1974 Jun 04
|
Partial
|
−0.54887 | 125 | 1974 Nov 29
|
Total
|
0.30540 | |
| 130 | 1975 May 25
|
Total
|
0.23674 | 135 | 1975 Nov 18
|
Total
|
−0.41343 | |
| 140 | 1976 May 13
|
Partial
|
0.95860 | 145 | 1976 Nov 06
|
Penumbral
|
−1.12760 | |
| Last set | 1973 Jul 15 | Last set | 1973 Jan 18 | |||||
| Next set | 1977 Apr 04 | Next set | 1977 Sep 27 | |||||
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).[5] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 147.
| May 9, 1967 | May 19, 1985 |
|---|---|
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See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "May 13–14, 1976 Partial Lunar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1976 May 13" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1976 May 13". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
External links
[edit]- 1976 May 13 chart Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
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