A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on Tuesday, September 27, 1977, the second of two lunar eclipses in 1977. At maximum eclipse, 90.076% of the Moon's disc was partially shaded by the Earth, which caused a slight shadow gradient across its disc; this subtle effect may have been visible to careful observers. No part of the Moon was in complete shadow. The eclipse lasted 4 hours, 17 minutes and 35.5 seconds overall. Occurring 6.2 days before apogee (Apogee on October 3, 1977), the Moon's apparent diameter was 2.2% smaller than average.[1]
| Penumbral eclipse | |||||||||
| Date | 27 September 1977 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | 1.07682 | ||||||||
| Magnitude | 0.90076 | ||||||||
| Saros cycle | 117 (50 of 72) | ||||||||
| Penumbral | 257 minutes, 35.5 seconds | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Visibility
editIt was completely visible over east in Asia, Australia, Pacific, North America and South America, seen rising over Asia, East China Sea and Australia and setting over the Atlantic and South America.
Related lunar eclipses
editEclipses in 1977
edit- A partial lunar eclipse on Monday, 4 April 1977.
- An annular solar eclipse on Monday, 18 April 1977.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on Tuesday, 27 September 1977.
- A total solar eclipse on Wednesday, 12 October 1977.
Lunar year series
edit| Lunar eclipse series sets from 1977–1980 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending node | Descending node | |||||||
| Saros | Date viewing |
Type chart |
Gamma | Saros | Date viewing |
Type chart |
Gamma | |
| 112 | 1977 Apr 04
|
Partial
|
−0.91483 | 117 | 1977 Sep 27
|
Penumbral
|
1.07682 | |
| 122 | 1978 Mar 24
|
Total
|
−0.21402 | 127 | 1978 Sep 16
|
Total
|
0.29510 | |
| 132 | 1979 Mar 13
|
Partial
|
0.52537 | 137 | 1979 Sep 06
|
Total
|
−0.43050 | |
| 142 | 1980 Mar 01
|
Penumbral
|
1.22701 | 147 | 1980 Aug 26
|
Penumbral
|
−1.16082 | |
| Last set | 1976 May 13 | Last set | 1976 Nov 06 | |||||
| Next set | 1981 Jan 20 | Next set | 1980 Jul 27 | |||||
Half-Saros cycle
editA 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 solar eclipses of Solar Saros 124.
| September 22, 1968 | October 3, 1986 |
|---|---|
|
|
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 117
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
External links
edit- 1977 Sep 27 chart Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
 | This lunar eclipse-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |