January 2020 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, January 10, 2020,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.1146. 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 2.8 days before perigee (on January 13, 2020, at 15:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2] This eclipse was the first of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 2020, with the others occurring on June 5, July 5, and November 30. VisibilityThe eclipse was completely visible over east Africa, Europe, and Asia, seen rising over the west Africa and northern North America and setting over Australia and the central Pacific Ocean.[3]
Gallery
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 2020
Metonic
Tzolkinex
Half-Saros
Tritos
Lunar Saros 144
Inex
Triad
Lunar eclipses of 2016–2020
Saros 144It is part of Saros cycle 144. 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 partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 151.
See alsoReferences
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