August 1942 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Wednesday, August 26, 1942, with an umbral magnitude of 1.5344. 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. Occurring about 2.7 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern North America, South America, west Africa, and Antarctica, seen rising over western North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.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 | 2.51418 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.53440 |
| Gamma | 0.18180 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 10h17m03.7s |
| Sun Declination | +10°39'49.6" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'49.7" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 22h16m52.1s |
| Moon Declination | -10°29'26.0" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'09.3" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°59'17.3" |
| ΔT | 25.7 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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.| August 12 Ascending node | August 26 Descending node | September 10 Ascending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 115 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 127 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 153 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1942
- A total lunar eclipse on March 3.
- A partial solar eclipse on March 16.
- A partial solar eclipse on August 12.A total lunar eclipse on August 26.
- A partial solar eclipse on September 10.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 7, 1938
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1946
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 1935
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 7, 1949
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 21, 1933
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 1, 1951
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 26, 1931
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1953
Lunar Saros 127
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 14, 1924
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1960
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 15, 1913
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1971
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 25, 1855
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 26, 2029
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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 134.| August 21, 1933 | September 1, 1951 |