December 1946 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Sunday, December 8, 1946, with an umbral magnitude of 1.1639. 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 only about 6.5 hours before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over central and eastern Europe, northeast Africa, Asia, and western Australia, seen rising over much of Africa and western Europe and setting over eastern Australia and northwestern North America.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 | 2.13370 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.16390 |
| Gamma | 0.38643 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 16h59m23.8s |
| Sun Declination | -22°42'56.8" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'14.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 04h59m03.0s |
| Moon Declination | +23°06'12.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'44.7" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'27.3" |
| ΔT | 27.8 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.| November 23 Descending node | December 8 Ascending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 122 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 134 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1946
- A partial solar eclipse on January 3.
- A partial solar eclipse on May 30.
- A total lunar eclipse on June 14.
- A partial solar eclipse on June 29.
- A partial solar eclipse on November 23.
- '''A total lunar eclipse on December 8.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1943
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 26, 1950
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1939
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 19, 1954
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 2, 1937
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 14, 1955
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 8, 1936
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 7, 1957
Lunar Saros 134
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 27, 1928
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 19, 1964
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 28, 1917
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1975
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 7, 1860
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 8, 2033
Lunar eclipses of 1944–1947
Saros 134
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 141.| December 2, 1937 | December 14, 1955 |