January 2001 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, January 9, 2001,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.1902. 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 only about 8 hours before perigee (on January 10, 2001, at 4:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2] VisibilityThe eclipse was completely visible over Africa, Europe, and Asia, seen rising over eastern and northern North America and eastern South America and setting over Australia and the western Pacific Ocean.[3]
Eclipse detailsShown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]
Eclipse seasonThis 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.
Related eclipsesEclipses in 2001
Metonic
Tzolkinex
Half-Saros
Tritos
Lunar Saros 134
Inex
Triad
Lunar eclipses of 1998–2002
Half-Saros cycleA lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[5] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 141.
See alsoReferences
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lunar eclipse of 2001 January 9.
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