December 1944 lunar eclipse


A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, December 29, 1944, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0176. It was a relatively rare total penumbral lunar eclipse, with the Moon passing entirely within the penumbral shadow without entering the darker umbral shadow. 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 6 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This eclipse was the last of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 1944, with the others occurring on February 9, July 6, and August 4.
Saturn was conjunct with the Moon during this eclipse.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over much of Asia, Australia, and northwestern North America, seen rising over Europe, east Africa, and the Middle East and setting over much of North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude1.02198
Umbral Magnitude−0.01757
Gamma−1.01151
Sun Right Ascension18h33m56.1s
Sun Declination-23°12'58.6"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'15.9"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension06h34m05.9s
Moon Declination+22°14'56.3"
Moon Semi-Diameter15'38.8"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°57'25.5"
ΔT26.9 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.
December 29
Ascending node 		January 14
Descending node
Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 114		Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 140

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1944

Saros 114

Tritos series

Inex series

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 121.
December 25, 1935January 5, 1954