August 1971 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, August 6, 1971, with an umbral magnitude of 1.7283. It was a central lunar eclipses|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 2.3 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over central and east Africa, much of Asia, western Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over central and eastern South America, Europe, and west Africa and setting over east and northeast Asia and eastern Australia.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 | 2.69580 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.72830 |
| Gamma | −0.07944 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 09h04m36.6s |
| Sun Declination | +16°43'16.0" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'46.2" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 21h04m44.2s |
| Moon Declination | -16°47'39.7" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'17.9" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°59'49.1" |
| ΔT | 41.8 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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.| July 22 Descending node | August 6 Ascending node | August 20 Descending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 116 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 128 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 154 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1971
- A total lunar eclipse on February 10.
- A partial solar eclipse on February 25.
- A partial solar eclipse on July 22.A total lunar eclipse on August 6.
- A partial solar eclipse on August 20.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1967
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1964
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1978
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 31, 1962
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 10, 1980
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1960
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1982
Lunar Saros 128
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1953
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 17, 1989
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1942
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2000
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 4, 1884
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 6, 2058
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 135.| July 31, 1962 | August 10, 1980 |