A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, with an umbral magnitude of −0.3107. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into the Earth's penumbra. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. Occurring about 2 days before apogee (on March 25, 2016, at 10:15 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over Australia and western North America, seen rising over much of Asia and setting over central and eastern North America and western South America.
Hourly motion shown right to left Visibility map
Eclipse details Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
+March 23, 2016 Lunar Eclipse Parameters Parameter Value Penumbral Magnitude 0.77585 Umbral Magnitude −0.31071 Gamma 1.15916 Sun Right Ascension 00h12m02.0s Sun Declination +01°18'10.9" Sun Semi-Diameter 16'02.7" Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.8" Moon Right Ascension 12h13m18.6s Moon Declination -00°18'21.4" Moon Semi-Diameter 14'46.0" Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0°54'11.6" ΔT 68.0 s
Eclipse season
This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.
+ Eclipse season of March 2016 March 9Descending node (new moon) March 23Ascending node (full moon) Total solar eclipseSolar Saros 130 Penumbral lunar eclipseLunar Saros 142
Related eclipses Eclipses in 2016 A total solar eclipse on March 9. A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 23. A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 18. An annular solar eclipse on September 1. A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 16.
Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 2012 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 10, 2020
Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 9, 2009 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 5, 2023
Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 19, 2007 Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 2025
Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 2005 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 2027
Lunar Saros 142 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1998 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 3, 2034
Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 1987 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2045
Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 23, 1929 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 23, 2103
Lunar eclipses of 2013–2016
Saros 142
Tritos series
Inex series
Half-Saros cycle A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 149. March 19, 2007March 29, 2025
See also August 2016 lunar eclipse, the second 2016 lunar eclipse (penumbral) September 2016 lunar eclipse, the third 2016 lunar eclipse (penumbral) List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
References
External links
Hermit eclipse: 23 Mar 2016 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse