October 1985 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse took place on Monday, October 28, 1985, the second of two total lunar eclipses in 1985, the first being on May 4, 1985.[1]

October 1985 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Date28 October 1985
Gamma0.35197
Magnitude1.23687
Saros cycle126 (44 of 72)
Totality43 minutes, 52.2 seconds
Partiality214 minutes, 58.1 seconds
Penumbral365 minutes, 8.9 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P114:39:48.7
U115:54:53.0
U217:20:26.0
Greatest17:42:22.5
U318:04:18.2
U419:29:51.1
P420:44:57.6

Visibility

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Eclipses of 1985

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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

Saros series

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It is part of saros series 126.

Lunar saros series 126, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 70 lunar eclipse events including 14 total lunar eclipses. Solar Saros 133 interleaves with this lunar saros with an event occurring every 9 years 5 days alternating between each saros series.

First penumbral lunar eclipse: 18 July 1228

First partial lunar eclipse: 24 March 1625

First total lunar eclipse: 19 June 1769

First central lunar eclipse: 11 July 1805

Greatest eclipse of the lunar saros 126: 13 August 1859, lasting 106 minutes.

Last central lunar eclipse: 26 September 1931

Last total lunar eclipse: 9 November 2003

Last partial lunar eclipse: 5 June 2346

Last penumbral lunar eclipse: 19 August 2472

1901-2100

15 September 1913

26 September 1931

7 October 1949

18 October 1967

28 October 1985

9 November 2003

19 November 2021

30 November 2039

11 December 2057

22 December 2075

1 January 2094


Metonic series

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This eclipse is the second of four Metonic cycle lunar eclipses on the same date, October 28–29, each separated by 19 years:

The metonic cycle repeats nearly exactly every 19 years and represents a Saros cycle plus one lunar year. Because it occurs on the same calendar date, the Earth's shadow will in nearly the same location relative to the background stars.

Metonic events: May 4 and October 28
Descending node Ascending node
  1. 1966 May 4 - Penumbral (111)
  2. 1985 May 4 - Total (121)
  3. 2004 May 4 - Total (131)
  4. 2023 May 5 - Penumbral (141)
  1. 1966 Oct 29 - Penumbral (116)
  2. 1985 Oct 28 - Total (126)
  3. 2004 Oct 28 - Total (136)
  4. 2023 Oct 28 - Partial (146)
  5. 2042 Oct 28 - Penumbral (156)
   

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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 133.

October 23, 1976 November 3, 1994
   

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 126
  2. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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