A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, February 9, 1944, with an umbral magnitude of −0.5223. 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 1.1 days before apogee (on February 10, 1944, at 7:45 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This eclipse was the first of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 1944, with the others occurring on July 6, August 4, and December 29.
Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over North and South America, west Africa, and western Europe, seen rising over northeast Asia and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Eclipse details Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
+February 9, 1944 Lunar Eclipse Parameters Parameter Value Penumbral Magnitude 0.57926 Umbral Magnitude −0.52225 Gamma 1.26983 Sun Right Ascension 21h27m03.0s Sun Declination -15°01'28.5" Sun Semi-Diameter 16'12.7" Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.9" Moon Right Ascension 09h28m05.2s Moon Declination +16°08'24.5" Moon Semi-Diameter 14'43.1" Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0°54'00.8" ΔT 26.4 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 January–February 1944 January 25Descending node (new moon) February 9Ascending node (full moon) Total solar eclipseSolar Saros 130 Penumbral lunar eclipseLunar Saros 142
Related eclipses Eclipses in 1944 A total solar eclipse on January 25. A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 9. A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 6. An annular solar eclipse on July 20. A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 4. A penumbral lunar eclipse on December 29.
Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 22, 1940 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 28, 1947
Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 28, 1936 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 23, 1951
Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 3, 1935 Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 14, 1953
Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 12, 1933 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 8, 1955
Lunar Saros 142 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 28, 1926 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 19, 1962
Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 1, 1915 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 18, 1973
Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 9, 1857 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 9, 2030
Lunar eclipses of 1940–1944
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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 149. February 3, 1935February 14, 1953
See also List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
References
External links Saros series 142