March 2043 lunar eclipse explained

Type:total
Date:March 25, 2043
Gamma:0.3849
Magnitude:1.1161
Saros Ser:123
Saros No:54 of 72
Totality:53 minutes, 24 seconds
Partiality:214 minutes, 37 seconds
Penumbral:359 minutes, 16 seconds
P1:11:30:59
U1:12:43:16
U2:14:03:53
Greatest:14:30:36
U3:14:57:17
U4:16:17:53
P4:17:30:15
Previous:October 2042
Next:September 2043

A total lunar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Wednesday, March 25, 2043,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.1161. 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 3.4 days before apogee (on March 29, 2043, at 1:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter will be smaller.[2]

This lunar eclipse is the first of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on September 19, 2043; March 13, 2044; and September 7, 2044.

Visibility

The eclipse will be completely visible over east Asia, Australia, and the western Pacific Ocean, seen rising over central and east Africa, eastern Europe, and west, central, and south Asia and setting over much of North America.[3]

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]

March 25, 2043 Lunar Eclipse Parameters! Parameter! Value
Penumbral Magnitude2.19197
Umbral Magnitude1.11611
Gamma0.38490
Sun Right Ascension00h17m45.9s
Sun Declination+01°55'21.5"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'02.4"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension12h18m26.9s
Moon Declination-01°36'57.6"
Moon Semi-Diameter14'54.5"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°54'42.9"
ΔT81.0 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 2043

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 123

Inex

Triad

Half-Saros cycle

A 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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 130.

See also

References

  1. Web site: March 25–26, 2043 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon). timeanddate. 3 December 2024.
  2. Web site: Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England. timeanddate. 3 December 2024.
  3. Web site: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2043 Mar 25. NASA. 3 December 2024.
  4. Web site: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2043 Mar 25. EclipseWise.com. 3 December 2024.
  5. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros