August 1970 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, August 17, 1970, with an umbral magnitude of 0.4080. 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 4 hours before 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 central Pacific Ocean and setting over Europe, much of 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 | 1.35215 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.40797 |
| Gamma | −0.80534 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 09h44m32.9s |
| Sun Declination | +13°35'06.2" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'47.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 21h45m58.7s |
| Moon Declination | -14°19'57.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'43.9" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'24.5" |
| ΔT | 40.8 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 17 Ascending node | August 31 Descending node |
| Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 118 | Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 144 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1970
- A partial lunar eclipse on February 21.
- A total solar eclipse on March 7.A partial lunar eclipse on August 17.
- An annular solar eclipse on August 31.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 29, 1966
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1974
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1963
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 27, 1977
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 11, 1961
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 22, 1979
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 17, 1959
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 17, 1981
Lunar Saros 118
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 5, 1952
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 27, 1988
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1941
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 28, 1999
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 16, 1883
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 17, 2057
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 125.| August 11, 1961 | August 22, 1979 |