December 2001 lunar eclipse


A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Sunday, December 30, 2001, with an umbral magnitude of −0.1141. 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 3.7 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and North America, seen rising over much of Asia and Australia and setting over South America.

The moon's hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Gemini.

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude0.89477
Umbral Magnitude−0.11407
Gamma1.07318
Sun Right Ascension18h38m16.3s
Sun Declination-23°08'50.7"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'15.9"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension06h38m07.7s
Moon Declination+24°12'18.7"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'07.4"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°59'10.2"
ΔT64.3 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 14
Descending node
December 30
Ascending node
Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 132
Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 144

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2001

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 144

Inex

Triad

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 partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 151.
December 24, 1992January 4, 2011