August 1989 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Thursday, August 17, 1989, with an umbral magnitude of 1.5984. It was a [List of central Asia|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 2.4 days 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 and central North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean and setting over Europe, much of Africa, and west, central, and south Asia.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 | 2.57033 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.59838 |
| Gamma | −0.14905 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 09h46m02.0s |
| Sun Declination | +13°27'24.4" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'47.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 21h46m17.4s |
| Moon Declination | -13°35'27.7" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'15.3" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°59'39.3" |
| ΔT | 56.6 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 |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 128 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 154 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1989
- A total lunar eclipse on February 20.
- A partial solar eclipse on March 7.A total lunar eclipse on August 17.
- A partial solar eclipse on August 31.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1985
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1993
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1982
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 27, 1996
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 10, 1980
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 22, 1998
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1978
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2000
Lunar Saros 128
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1971
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 28, 2007
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1960
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 27, 2018
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 17, 1902
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 17, 2076
Lunar eclipses of 1988–1991
This eclipse is the second of four lunar year eclipses occurring at the Moon's ascending node.The lunar year series repeats after 12 lunations or 354 days. Because of the date shift, the Earth's shadow will be about 11 degrees west in sequential events.
Metonic series
It is the third of five Metonic cycle eclipses, each being separated by 19 years: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.| August 10, 1980 | August 22, 1998 |