August 2008 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Saturday, August 16, 2008, with an umbral magnitude of 0.8095. 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 about 6.2 days before apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and west, central, and south Asia, seen rising over South America and setting over east Asia and Australia.The planet Neptune was 2 days past opposition, visible in binoculars as an 8th magnitude "star" just two degrees west and slightly south of the Moon.
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 | 1.83849 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.80946 |
| Gamma | 0.56463 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 09h46m37.2s |
| Sun Declination | +13°24'18.2" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'47.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 21h45m41.8s |
| Moon Declination | -12°55'29.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'21.1" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°56'20.6" |
| ΔT | 65.7 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 1, 2008|August 1] Descending node | August 16 Ascending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 126 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 138 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2008
- An annular solar eclipse on February 7.
- A total lunar eclipse on February 21.
- A total solar eclipse on August 1.
- '''A partial lunar eclipse on August 16.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 2004
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 2012
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 5, 2001
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 28, 2015
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 11, 1999
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1997
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2019
Lunar Saros 138
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1990
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 28, 2026
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 6, 1979
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 27, 2037
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 16, 1921
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 17, 2095
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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 145.| August 11, 1999 | August 21, 2017 |