February 2009 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Monday, February 9, 2009, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0863. 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 1.9 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This eclipse was the first of four lunar eclipses in 2009, with the others occurring on July 7, August 6, and December 31.
It also happened on the Lantern Festival, the first since February 20, 1989.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over east Asia and Australia, seen rising over east Africa, eastern Europe, and west Asia and setting over North America and the eastern 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 | 0.90132 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.08632 |
| Gamma | −1.06401 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 21h33m30.0s |
| Sun Declination | -14°30'07.1" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'12.6" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 09h31m42.1s |
| Moon Declination | +13°31'37.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'24.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'14.2" |
| ΔT | 65.8 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 131 | Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 143 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2009
- An annular solar eclipse on January 26.A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 9.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 7.
- A total solar eclipse on July 22.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 6.
- A partial lunar eclipse on December 31.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 2005
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 28, 2012
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 30, 2001
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 23, 2016
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 5, 2000
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 15, 2018
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1998
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 10, 2020
Lunar Saros 143
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 30, 1991
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 2027
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 1, 1980
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2038
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 11, 1922
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 11, 2095
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 150.| February 5, 2000 | February 15, 2018 |