February 1970 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Saturday, February 21, 1970, with an umbral magnitude of 0.0464. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in 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 2.4 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia, North America, and northwestern South America, seen rising over east Asia and Australia and setting over much of South America, western Europe, and west Africa.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 | 1.14027 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.04639 |
| Gamma | 0.96198 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 22h17m07.7s |
| Sun Declination | -10°39'28.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'10.2" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 10h18m43.4s |
| Moon Declination | +11°26'05.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'47.0" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'15.2" |
| ΔT | 40.3 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.| February 21 Descending node | March 7 Ascending node |
| Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 113 | Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 139 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1970
- A partial lunar eclipse on February 21.
- A total solar eclipse on March 7.
- A partial lunar eclipse on August 17.
- An annular solar eclipse on August 31.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1966
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 10, 1973
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 1963
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1977
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 15, 1961
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 26, 1979
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1959
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 20, 1981
Lunar Saros 113
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 1952
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1988
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1941
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 31, 1999
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 22, 1883
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 22, 2056
Lunar eclipses of 1969–1973
Metonic series
Saros 113
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 120.| February 15, 1961 | February 26, 1979 |