- Source: April 2015 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Saturday, April 4, 2015, with an umbral magnitude of 1.0019. 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 3.1 days after apogee (on April 1, 2015, at 9:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This lunar eclipse is the third of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on April 15, 2014; October 8, 2014; and September 28, 2015.
This is the 30th member of Lunar Saros 132, and the first total eclipse of the series. The previous event was the March 1997 lunar eclipse, being slightly partial.
Duration
Totality lasted only 4 minutes and 43 seconds, making it the shortest lunar totality in almost five centuries since October 17, 1529 (which lasted 1 minute and 42 seconds). It was claimed by some that due to the oblateness of the Earth, it may have actually just been a partial eclipse. It was the sixth total lunar eclipse out of nine with totality under 5 minutes in a five millennium period between 2,000 BC and 3,000 AD. The eclipsed moon was 12.9% smaller in apparent diameter than the supermoon September 2015 lunar eclipse, measured as 29.66' and 33.47' in diameter from the center of the Earth. It occurred 3 days past apogee at 29.42'.
Background
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes within Earth's umbra (shadow). As the eclipse begins, Earth's shadow first darkens the Moon slightly. Then, the shadow begins to "cover" part of the Moon, turning it a dark red-brown color (typically - the color can vary based on atmospheric conditions). The Moon appears to be reddish because of Rayleigh scattering (the same effect that causes sunsets to appear reddish) and the refraction of that light by Earth's atmosphere into its umbra.
The following simulation shows the approximate appearance of the Moon passing through Earth's shadow. The Moon's brightness is exaggerated within the umbral shadow. The southern portion of the Moon will be closest to the center of the shadow, making it darkest, and most red in appearance.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia, eastern Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and western North America, seen rising over Asia and western Australia and setting over North and South America.
Timing
† The Moon was not visible during this part of the eclipse in this time zone.
Gallery
Eclipse details
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
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.
Related eclipses
= Eclipses in 2015
=A total solar eclipse on March 20.
A total lunar eclipse on April 4.
A partial solar eclipse on September 13.
A total lunar eclipse on September 28.
= Metonic
=Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2011
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2019
= Tzolkinex
=Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 2008
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2022
= Half-Saros
=Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 2006
Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024
= Tritos
=Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 2004
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2026
= Lunar Saros 132
=Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 2033
= Inex
=Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 2044
= Triad
=Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1928
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 3, 2102
= Lunar eclipses of 2013–2016
=The eclipse is the one of four lunar eclipses in a short-lived series at the ascending node of the Moon's orbit.
The lunar year series repeats after 12 lunations, or 354 days (shifting back about 10 days in sequential years). Because of the date shift, the Earth's shadow will be about 11 degrees west in sequential events.
= Saros 132
=Lunar saros series 132, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 71 lunar eclipse events including 44 umbral lunar eclipses (32 partial lunar eclipses and 12 total lunar eclipses).
There are 11 series events between 1901 and 2100, grouped into threes (called an exeligmos), each column with approximately the same viewing longitude on earth.
= Half-Saros cycle
=A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros). This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of solar saros 139.
See also
List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
Notes
External links
2015 Apr 04 chart: Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
Hermit Eclipse: Total Lunar Eclipse: April 4, 2015
Mattastro.com Total Lunar Eclipse: April 4, 2015
Full Moon in Earth's Shadow APOD 2015 April 8
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