December 1963 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, December 30, 1963, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3350. 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 1.5 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia and much of North America, seen rising over much of Asia and Australia and setting over eastern North America and South 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 | 2.32062 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.33504 |
| Gamma | −0.28889 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 18h34m56.9s |
| Sun Declination | -23°12'00.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'15.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 06h34m59.9s |
| Moon Declination | +22°54'31.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'30.2" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'34.1" |
| ΔT | 35.1 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 30 Ascending node | January 14 Descending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 124 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 150 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1963
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on January 9.
- An annular solar eclipse on January 25.
- A partial lunar eclipse on July 6.
- A total solar eclipse on July 20.
- '''A total lunar eclipse on December 30.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1960
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1967
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1956
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 10, 1971
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 25, 1954
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of January 4, 1973
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 29, 1953
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1974
Lunar Saros 124
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 19, 1945
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 1982
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 19, 1935
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 9, 1992
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 27, 1877
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 30, 2050
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 131.| December 25, 1954 | January 4, 1973 |