A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Monday, May 16, 2022, with an umbral magnitude of 1.4155. It was a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow. 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. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's shadow is smaller. Occurring about 1.5 days before perigee (15:23 UTC, May 17), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger than average.
Because this event occurred near lunar perigee, it was referred in media coverage as a "super flower blood moon" and elsewhere as a "super blood moon": a supermoon that coincides with a total lunar eclipse. This was the longest total lunar eclipse visible from nearly all of North America since August 17, 1989 until the next eclipse on November 8.
The eclipse was a dark one with the northern limb of the Moon passing through the center of Earth's shadow. This was the first central eclipse of Lunar Saros 131.
This lunar eclipse was the third of an almost tetrad, with the others being on May 26, 2021 (total); November 19, 2021 (partial); and November 8, 2022 (total).
Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over North and South America, seen rising over western North America and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over Europe and Africa.
Visibility map
Gallery
North and South America
Europe
Eclipse details Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
+May 16, 2022 Lunar Eclipse Parameters Parameter Value Penumbral Magnitude 2.37433 Umbral Magnitude 1.41545 Gamma −0.25323 Sun Right Ascension 03h 31m 49.5s Sun Declination +19° 05 13.4 Sun Semi-Diameter 15 49.2 Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.7 Moon Right Ascension 15h 31m 27.8s Moon Declination −19°19 40.4 Moon Semi-Diameter 16 29.9 Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 1°00 33.1 ΔT 69.3 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 April–May 2022 April 30Ascending node (new moon) May 16Descending node (full moon) Partial solar eclipseSolar Saros 119 Total lunar eclipseLunar Saros 131
Related eclipses Eclipses in 2022 A partial solar eclipse on April 30. A total lunar eclipse on May 16. A partial solar eclipse on October 25. A total lunar eclipse on November 8.
Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 27, 2018 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2026
Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 26, 2029
Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 10, 2013 Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 21, 2031
Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2011 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 2033
Lunar Saros 131 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 2004 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 26, 2040
Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1993 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 26, 2051
Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 1935 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 17, 2109
Lunar eclipses of 2020–2023
Metonic series
Saros 131
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 138. May 10, 2013May 21, 2031
See also List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
Notes
References
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