February 1990 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Friday, February 9, 1990, with an umbral magnitude of 1.0750. 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. The Moon's apparent diameter will be near the average diameter because it will occur 7.7 days after perigee and 6.75 days before apogee.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over east Africa, eastern Europe, and Asia, seen rising over northeastern North America, eastern South America, western Europe and west and central Africa and setting over Australia, northwestern North America, and the western and central Pacific Ocean.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 | 2.11912 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.07499 |
| Gamma | −0.41481 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 21h32m41.8s |
| Sun Declination | -14°34'08.6" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'12.6" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 09h32m01.7s |
| Moon Declination | +14°12'35.9" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'31.5" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°56'58.5" |
| ΔT | 56.9 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.| January 26 Ascending node | February 9 Descending node |
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 121 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 133 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1990
- An annular solar eclipse on January 26.A total lunar eclipse on February 9.
- A total solar eclipse on July 22.
- A partial lunar eclipse on August 6.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1993
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 30, 1982
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 4, 1981
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 16, 1999
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1979
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 2001
Lunar Saros 133
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 30, 1972
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 2008
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 2, 1961
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2019
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 12, 1903
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 10, 2076
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 140.| February 4, 1981 | February 16, 1999 |