January 1972 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse took place on Sunday, January 30, 1972, the first of two lunar eclipses in 1972. The moon entered the Earth's penumbral shadow at 30 January 1972 08:03:12.5 UTC and exited at 30 January 1972 13:43:37.9 UTC. The moon entered the Earth's umbral shadow at 30 January 1972 09:11:38.4 UTC and exited at 30 January 1972 12:35:03.1 UTC. Totality lasted 34 minutes, 47.7 seconds (34.795 min), between 10:35:57.4 UTC and 11:10:45.1 UTC. The moon was 6.6 days before apogee (Apogee on Sunday, February 6, 1972), making it 1.6% smaller than average, only 0.2% larger than the July 1972's lunar eclipse.[1]

January 1972 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Date30 January 1972
Gamma−0.42729
Magnitude1.04971
Saros cycle133 (24 of 71)
Totality34 minutes, 47.7 seconds
Partiality203 minutes, 24.7 seconds
Penumbral340 minutes, 25.4 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P108:03:12.5
U109:11:38.4
U210:35:57.4
Greatest10:53:22.8
U311:10:45.1
U412:35:03.1
P413:43:37.9

Visibility

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It was completely visible over eastern Asia, New Zealand, northwestern North America, seen rising over Asia and Australia and setting over North America and western South America.

 

Relation to other lunar eclipses

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Eclipses in 1972

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Lunar year series

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Lunar eclipse series sets from 1969–1973
Ascending node   Descending node
Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma
108 1969 Aug 27
 
Penumbral
 
−1.54066 113 1970 Feb 21
 
Partial
 
0.96198
118 1970 Aug 17
 
Partial
 
−0.80534 123 1971 Feb 10
 
Total
 
0.27413
128 1971 Aug 06
 
Total
 
−0.07944 133 1972 Jan 30
 
Total
 
−0.42729
138 1972 Jul 26
 
Partial
 
0.71167 143 1973 Jan 18
 
Penumbral
 
−1.08446
148 1973 Jul 15
 
Penumbral
 
1.51782
Last set 1969 Sep 25 Last set 1969 Apr 02
Next set 1973 Jun 15 Next set 1973 Dec 10

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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 140.

January 25, 1963 February 4, 1981
   

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Saros series 133
  2. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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