August 1988 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Saturday, August 27, 1988, with an umbral magnitude of 0.2916. 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 hours before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern Australia, western North America, and much of the Pacific Ocean, seen rising over western Australia and the eastern half of Asia and setting over much of North America and South America.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 | 1.23803 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.29159 |
| Gamma | −0.86816 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 10h25m02.1s |
| Sun Declination | +09°54'10.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'50.0" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 22h26m40.4s |
| Moon Declination | -10°41'41.3" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'43.7" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'23.7" |
| ΔT | 56.1 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 27 Ascending node | September 11 Descending node |
| Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 118 | Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 144 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1988
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 3.
- A total solar eclipse on March 18.A partial lunar eclipse on August 27.
- An annular solar eclipse on September 11.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 8, 1984
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 17, 1981
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 8, 1995
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 22, 1979
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 2, 1997
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 27, 1977
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 28, 1999
Lunar Saros 118
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 17, 1970
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 7, 2006
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 17, 1959
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 7, 2017
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 27, 1901
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 28, 2075
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 solar eclipses of Solar Saros 125.| August 22, 1979 | September 2, 1997 |