| Type: | penumbral |
| Date: | May 5, 2023 |
| Gamma: | -1.0349 |
| Magnitude: | −0.0438 |
| Saros Ser: | 141 |
| Saros No: | 24 of 73 |
| Penumbral: | 257 minutes, 31 seconds |
| P1: | 15:14:10 |
| Greatest: | 17:22:51 |
| P4: | 19:31:41 |
| Previous: | November 2022 |
| Next: | October 2023 |
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Friday, May 5, 2023,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.0438. 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 5.2 days before perigee (on May 11, 2023, at 1:05 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]
This was the deepest penumbral eclipse (with –0.0438 magnitude) since February 2017 and until September 2042.[3]
The eclipse was completely visible over Asia, Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over Africa and Europe and setting over the central Pacific Ocean.[4]
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[5]
| Penumbral Magnitude | 0.96551 | |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.04378 | |
| Gamma | −1.03495 | |
| Sun Right Ascension | 02h49m59.7s | |
| Sun Declination | +16°19'27.9" | |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'51.6" | |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" | |
| Moon Right Ascension | 14h48m23.5s | |
| Moon Declination | -17°14'31.7" | |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'42.8" | |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°57'40.1" | |
| ΔT | 70.9 s |
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.
This eclipse is the last of four Metonic cycle lunar eclipses on the same date, 4–5 May, each separated by 19 years:
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[6] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 148.