April 1969 lunar eclipse

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]

April 1969 lunar eclipse
Penumbral eclipse
Date2 April 1969
Gamma−1.17648
Magnitude0.70337
Saros cycle141 (21 of 73)
Penumbral223 minutes, 46.9 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P116:40:36.7
Greatest18:32:25.2
P420:24:22.6

Visibility

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It was completely visible over Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

 

Member

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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.

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Lunar year series

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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

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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

March 1915 lunar eclipse

March 1933 lunar eclipse

March 1951 lunar eclipse

April 1969 lunar eclipse

April 1987 lunar eclipse

April 2005 lunar eclipse

May 2023 lunar eclipse

May 2041 lunar eclipse

May 2059 lunar eclipse

June 2077 lunar eclipse

June 2095 lunar eclipse

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 148.

March 27, 1960 April 7, 1978
   

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 141
  2. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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