July 1991 lunar eclipse


A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, July 26, 1991, with an umbral magnitude of −0.8109. 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 2.25 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This eclipse was the third of four lunar eclipses in 1991, with the others occurring on January 30, June 27, and December 21.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over east Africa, much of Asia, Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over much of Europe and west and central Africa and setting over northeast Asia and the 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.
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude0.25425
Umbral Magnitude−0.81093
Gamma1.43698
Sun Right Ascension08h22m14.5s
Sun Declination+19°25'45.6"
Sun Semi-Diameter15'44.9"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.7"
Moon Right Ascension20h20m28.0s
Moon Declination-18°11'58.5"
Moon Semi-Diameter14'47.1"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°54'15.7"
ΔT58.0 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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.
June 27
Ascending node
July 11
Descending node
July 26
Ascending node
Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 110
Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 136
Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 148

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1991

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 148

Inex

Triad

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 155.
July 20, 1982July 31, 2000