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December 2009 lunar eclipse

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Partial Lunar Eclipse
31 December 2009

Munster, Ireland, 19:43 UT

The southern edge of the Moon will be completely darken as the Moon passes through the Earth's umbral shadow
Series (and member) 115 (57 of 72)
Gamma 0.9765
Magnitude 0.0763
Duration (hr:mn:sc)
Partial 0:59:58
Penumbral 4:11:03
Contacts (UTC)
P1 17:17:08
U1 18:52:43
Greatest 19:22:39
U4 19:52:41
P4 21:28:11

The Moon's hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Gemini

A partial lunar eclipse was visible on 31 December 2009. It was the last and largest of four minor lunar eclipses in 2009. This lunar eclipse was also notable, because it occurred during a blue moon (a second full moon in December) and was near perigee (making it a supermoon). The next eclipse on New Year's Eve and blue moon will occur on 31 December 2028.

Only a small portion of the Moon entered the Earth's umbral shadow, but there was a distinct darkening visible over the Moon's southern surface at greatest eclipse.

Visibility

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NASA chart of the eclipse

It was visible from all of Africa, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Australia. In the Philippines, the lunar eclipse was started last 1 January 2010, when it was very visible at mid-dawn until before sunrise.


This simulation shows the view of the Earth as viewed from the center of the Moon at greatest eclipse. The partially eclipsed Sun is visible above the north pole.

Map

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Photos

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Progression from Degania A, Israel

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Eclipses of 2009

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Lunar year (354 days)

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This eclipse is the one of four lunar eclipses in a short-lived series. The lunar year series repeats after 12 lunations or 354 days (Shifting back about 10 days in sequential years). Because of the date shift, the Earth's shadow will be about 11 degrees west in sequential events.

Saros series

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It was part of Saros series 115.

Lunar eclipse series sets from 2009–2013
Ascending node   Descending node
Saros #
Photo
Date
Viewing
Type
chart
Gamma Saros #
Photo
Date
Viewing
Type
chart
Gamma
110 2009 Jul 07
penumbral
−1.4916 115
2009 Dec 31
partial
0.9766
120
2010 Jun 26
partial
−0.7091 125
2010 Dec 21
total
0.3214
130
2011 Jun 15
total
0.0897 135
2011 Dec 10
total
−0.3882
140
2012 Jun 04
partial
0.8248 145 2012 Nov 28
penumbral
−1.0869
150 2013 May 25
penumbral
1.5351
Last set 2009 Aug 06 Last set 2009 Feb 9
Next set 2013 Apr 25 Next set 2013 Oct 18

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).[1] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 122.

25 December 2000 6 January 2019

Tritos series

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Tzolkinex

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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