December 1992 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Wednesday, December 9, 1992, with an umbral magnitude of 1.2709. 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 3.9 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
According to Fred Espenak, this was the darkest eclipse in a decade, caused by the June 15, 1991 eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over northern North America, Europe, Africa, and west, central, and north Asia, seen rising over much of North America and South America and setting over the eastern half of Asia.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 | 2.29154 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.27090 |
| Gamma | 0.31438 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 17h08m34.5s |
| Sun Declination | -22°54'48.3" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'14.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 05h08m35.3s |
| Moon Declination | +23°13'09.8" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'54.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°58'24.2" |
| ΔT | 59.1 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 9 Descending node | December 24 Ascending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 125 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 151 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1992
- An annular solar eclipse on January 4.
- A partial lunar eclipse on June 15.
- A total solar eclipse on June 30.A total lunar eclipse on December 9.
- A partial solar eclipse on December 24.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1989
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 27, 1996
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1985
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2000
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 4, 1983
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of December 14, 2001
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 1982
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 9, 2003
Lunar Saros 125
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1974
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 21, 2010
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 30, 1963
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 19, 2021
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 9, 1906
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 10, 2079
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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 132.| December 4, 1983 | December 14, 2001 |