A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Saturday, February 11, 2017, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0342. It was not quite a total penumbral lunar eclipse. 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 4.6 days before perigee (on February 6, 2017, at 9:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This eclipse occurred the same day as comet 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková made a close approach to Earth (0.08318 AU). It also occurred on the Lantern Festival, the first eclipse to do so since February 9, 2009.
Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over northeastern North America, eastern South America, Europe, Africa, and west Asia, seen rising over much of North America and western South America and setting over south and east Asia.
Hourly motion shown right to left Visibility map
Gallery
Eclipse details Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
+February 11, 2017 Lunar Eclipse Parameters Parameter Value Penumbral Magnitude 0.98956 Umbral Magnitude −0.03421 Gamma −1.02548 Sun Right Ascension 21h39m19.2s Sun Declination -14°01'07.8" Sun Semi-Diameter 16'12.3" Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.9" Moon Right Ascension 09h38m22.6s Moon Declination +13°03'10.2" Moon Semi-Diameter 15'49.8" Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0°58'05.6" ΔT 68.3 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 February 2017 February 11Ascending node (full moon) February 26Descending node (new moon) Penumbral lunar eclipseLunar Saros 114 Annular solar eclipseSolar Saros 140
Related eclipses Eclipses in 2017 A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 11. An annular solar eclipse on February 26. A partial lunar eclipse on August 7. A total solar eclipse on August 21.
Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 25, 2013 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 30, 2020
Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 31, 2009 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 25, 2024
Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 7, 2008 Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 17, 2026
Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2006 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 12, 2028
Lunar Saros 114 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 31, 1999 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 22, 2035
Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1988 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 22, 2046
Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1930 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 13, 2103
Lunar eclipses of 2016–2020
Saros 114
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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 121. February 7, 2008February 17, 2026
See also List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
References
External links
11 Feb 2017 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Pakistan to witness lunar eclipse on February 11