August 1998 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Saturday, August 8, 1998, with an umbral magnitude of −0.8637. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into 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 about 3.4 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern and central North America, South America, Africa, much of Europe, and Antarctica, seen rising over western North America and setting over eastern Europe and the Middle East.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 | 0.12064 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.86370 |
| Gamma | 1.48757 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 09h11m18.0s |
| Sun Declination | +16°13'41.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'46.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 21h10m04.5s |
| Moon Declination | -14°48'01.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'01.4" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°58'48.5" |
| ΔT | 63.2 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.| August 8 Descending node | August 22 Ascending node | September 6 Descending node |
| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 109 | Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 135 | Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 147 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1998
- A total solar eclipse on February 26.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 13.A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 8.
- An annular solar eclipse on August 22.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 6.
Metonic
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 26, 2002
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 27, 1991
Tritos
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 7, 2009
Lunar Saros 109
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 27, 1980
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 18, 2016
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 27, 1969
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 18, 2027
Triad
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 8, 2085