February 1971 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Wednesday, February 10, 1971, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3082. 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 2.8 days before apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over North America and northwestern South America, seen rising over east Asia and northeast Asia and Australia and setting over much of South America, Europe, and west and central Africa.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 | 2.40262 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.30819 |
| Gamma | 0.27413 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 21h33m15.2s |
| Sun Declination | -14°31'31.4" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'12.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 09h33m40.7s |
| Moon Declination | +14°45'05.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'48.6" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'21.2" |
| ΔT | 41.3 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 10 Descending node | February 25 Ascending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 123 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 149 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1971
A total lunar eclipse on February 10.- A partial solar eclipse on February 25.
- A partial solar eclipse on July 22.
- A total lunar eclipse on August 6.
- A partial solar eclipse on August 20.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1974
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 30, 1963
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1978
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 5, 1962
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 16, 1980
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1960
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 1982
Lunar Saros 123
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 29, 1953
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1989
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1942
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2000
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 10, 1884
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 11, 2057
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 130.| February 5, 1962 | February 16, 1980 |