April 1996 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Thursday, April 4, 1996, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3795. It was a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. 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. The Moon's apparent diameter was near the average diameter because it occurred 6.9 days after apogee and 7.2 days before perigee.
This lunar eclipse was the first of an almost tetrad, with the others being on September 27, 1996 ; March 24, 1997 ; and September 16, 1997.
This was the last central member and 55th overall member of Lunar Saros 122.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern South America, Europe, and Africa, seen rising over much of North America and western and central South America and setting over much of Asia and western Australia.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 | 2.40683 |
| Umbral magnitude | 1.37949 |
| Gamma | −0.25339 |
| Sun right ascension | 00h53m26.5s |
| Sun declination | +05°43'14.0" |
| Sun semi-diameter | 15'59.5" |
| Sun equatorial morizontal parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon right ascension | 12h53m09.4s |
| Moon declination | -05°57'04.2" |
| Moon semi-diameter | 15'33.9" |
| Moon equatorial horizontal parallax | 0°57'07.5" |
| ΔT | 61.8 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 4 Ascending node | April 17 Descending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 122 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 148 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1996
A total lunar eclipse on April 4- A partial solar eclipse on April 17
- A total lunar eclipse on September 27
- A partial solar eclipse on October 12
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2000
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1989
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2003
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 1987
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 8, 2005
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1985
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2007
Lunar Saros 122
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1978
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1909
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 2, 2083
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 hybrid solar eclipses of Solar Saros 129.| March 29, 1987 | April 8, 2005 |