April 1968 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Saturday, April 13, 1968, with an umbral magnitude of 1.1116. 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 1.1 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This lunar eclipse was the third of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on April 24, 1967; October 18, 1967; and October 6, 1968.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of North America and South America, seen rising over northwestern North America and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.Eclipse details
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.| Parameter | Value |
| Penumbral Magnitude | 2.07253 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.11164 |
| Gamma | −0.41732 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 01h26m19.6s |
| Sun Declination | +09°03'48.7" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'56.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 13h25m32.2s |
| Moon Declination | -09°26'23.0" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'35.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'54.7" |
| ΔT | 38.5 s |
Eclipse season
This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months 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.| March 28, 1968|March 28] Ascending node | April 13 Descending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 119 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 131 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1968
- A partial solar eclipse on March 28.
- A total lunar eclipse on April 13.
- Solar eclipse of [September 22, 1968|A total solar eclipse on September 22].
- A total lunar eclipse on October 6.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1964
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 30, 1972
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 2, 1961
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 8, 1959
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 18, 1977
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 13, 1957
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1979
Lunar Saros 131
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1950
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1939
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 12, 1881
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 2055
Half-Saros cycle
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days. This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 138.| April 8, 1959 | April 18, 1977 |