March 2025 lunar eclipse explained

Type:total
Date:March 14, 2025
Gamma:0.3485
Magnitude:1.1804
Saros Ser:123
Saros No:53 of 72
Totality:66 minutes, 3.9 seconds
Partiality:218 minutes, 55.8 seconds
Penumbral:363 minutes, 22.4 seconds
P1:3:57:09.4
U1:5:09:22.6
U2:6:25:57.5
Greatest:6:58:44.5
U3:7:32:01.5
U4:8:48:18.5
P4:10:00:31.9
Previous:September 2024
Next:September 2025

A total lunar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Friday, March 14, 2025,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.1804. 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 3.3 days before apogee (on March 17, 2025, at 12:35 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter will be smaller.[2]

This lunar eclipse will be the first of an almost tetrad, with the others being on September 8, 2025 (total); March 3, 2026 (total); and August 28, 2026 (partial).[3]

Visibility

The eclipse will be completely visible over North and South America, seen rising over Australia and northeast Asia and setting over Africa and Europe.[4]

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[5]

March 14, 2025 Lunar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Penumbral Magnitude2.26146
Umbral Magnitude1.18038
Gamma0.34846
Sun Right Ascension23h37m46.0s
Sun Declination-02°24'16.8"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'05.2"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension11h38m23.0s
Moon Declination+02°40'54.6"
Moon Semi-Diameter14'52.8"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°54'36.8"
ΔT71.7 s

Eclipse season

See also: Eclipse cycle. 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 2025

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 123

Inex

Triad

Saros 123

It last occurred on March 3, 2007 and will next occur on 25 March 2043.

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[6] Related to Solar Saros 130.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March 13–14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon). timeanddate. 18 November 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 18 November 2024.
  3. Web site: Espenak . Fred . September 23, 2024 . Lunar Eclipses: 2021–2030 . September 23, 2024 . Eclipsewise.
  4. Web site: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2025 Mar 14. NASA. 18 November 2024.
  5. Web site: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2025 Mar 14. EclipseWise.com. 18 November 2024.
  6. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros