April 1986 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Thursday, April 24, 1986, with an umbral magnitude of 1.2022. 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 1.25 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 May 4, 1985; October 28, 1985; and October 17, 1986.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over Australia, east and northeast Asia, Antarctica, and the western and central Pacific Ocean, seen rising over much of Asia and setting over North America and western South America.Eclipse details
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.| Parameter | Value |
| Penumbral Magnitude | 2.16203 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.20217 |
| Gamma | −0.36826 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 02h07m09.8s |
| Sun Declination | +12°52'05.8" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'54.1" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 14h06m30.3s |
| Moon Declination | -13°12'18.9" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'34.0" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'48.0" |
| ΔT | 55.0 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.| April 9 Ascending node | April 24 Descending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 119 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 131 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1986
- A partial solar eclipse on April 9.A total lunar eclipse on April 24.
- A hybrid solar eclipse on October 3.
- A total lunar eclipse on October 17.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1982
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 9, 1990
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1979
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1993
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 18, 1977
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 29, 1995
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
Lunar Saros 131
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1968
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 2004
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 13, 1957
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 23, 1899
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 22, 2073
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 18, 1977 | April 29, 1995 |