January 2000 lunar eclipse


A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, January 21, 2000, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3246. 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 1.5 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over most of North America, South America, and western Europe, seen rising over the Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, Europe, and west Asia.

Hourly motion shown right to left

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.30601
Umbral Magnitude1.32459
Gamma−0.29571
Sun Right Ascension20h10m32.9s
Sun Declination-20°03'20.2"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'15.2"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.9"
Moon Right Ascension08h10m24.0s
Moon Declination+19°45'29.3"
Moon Semi-Diameter16'33.7"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax1°00'46.8"
ΔT63.8 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 21
Ascending node
February 5
Descending node
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 124
Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 150

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2000

Saros 124

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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 131.
January 15, 1991January 26, 2009