August 1961 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Saturday, August 26, 1961, with an umbral magnitude of 0.9863. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in 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 only about 7.5 hours after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This nearly total lunar eclipse of Lunar Saros 137 preceded the first total eclipse on September 6, 1979. It was also the largest partial lunar eclipse since October 28, 1939, making it the second largest partial lunar eclipse of the 20th century.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern North America, South America, west Africa, western Europe, and Antarctica, seen rising over western and central North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean and setting over much of Europe, central and east Africa, and west and central Asia.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 | 1.93301 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.98626 |
| Gamma | −0.48947 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 10h18m26.0s |
| Sun Declination | +10°31'58.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'49.7" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 22h18m58.5s |
| Moon Declination | -11°00'55.6" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'43.1" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'21.5" |
| ΔT | 33.8 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.| August 11 Ascending node | August 26 Descending node |
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 125 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 137 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1961
- A total solar eclipse on February 15.
- A partial lunar eclipse on March 2.
- An annular solar eclipse on August 11.
- '''A partial lunar eclipse on August 26.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 7, 1957
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1965
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 1954
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 6, 1968
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 20, 1952
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 31, 1970
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 26, 1950
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1972
Lunar Saros 137
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 15, 1943
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 6, 1979
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 14, 1932
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1990
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 25, 1874
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 26, 2048
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 144.| August 20, 1952 | August 31, 1970 |