A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, November 30, 2020, with an umbral magnitude of −0.2602. 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 3.6 days after apogee (on November 26, 2020, at 19:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This eclipse was the last of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 2020, with the others occurring on January 10, June 5, and July 5.
Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia and North America, seen rising over east Asia and Australia and setting over South America.
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.
+November 30, 2020 Lunar Eclipse Parameters Parameter Value Penumbral Magnitude 0.83023 Umbral Magnitude −0.26023 Gamma −1.13094 Sun Right Ascension 16h27m40.0s Sun Declination -21°44'31.0" Sun Semi-Diameter 16'13.1" Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.9" Moon Right Ascension 04h28m46.7s Moon Declination +20°44'46.4" Moon Semi-Diameter 14'52.4" Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0°54'35.1" ΔT 69.8 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 November–December 2020 November 30Ascending node (full moon) December 14Descending node (new moon) Penumbral lunar eclipseLunar Saros 116 Total solar eclipseSolar Saros 142
Related eclipses Eclipses in 2020 A penumbral lunar eclipse on January 10. A penumbral lunar eclipse on June 5. An annular solar eclipse on June 21. A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 5. A penumbral lunar eclipse on November 30. A total solar eclipse on December 14.
Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 2017 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 18, 2024
Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 2013 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 12, 2028
Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 25, 2011 Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 5, 2029
Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 31, 2009 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 30, 2031
Lunar Saros 116 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 20, 2002 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 11, 2038
Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 21, 1991 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 9, 2049
Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 30, 1934 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 2, 2107
Lunar eclipses of 2020–2023
Saros 116
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 123. November 25, 2011December 5, 2029
See also List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
References
External links Saros cycle 116