July 2020 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Sunday, July 5, 2020, with an umbral magnitude of −0.6422. 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. The Moon's apparent diameter was near the average diameter because it occurred 5.3 days after perigee and 7.5 days before apogee.
This eclipse was the third of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 2020, with the others occurring on January 10, June 5, and November 30.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over North and South America and west Africa, seen rising over northwestern North America and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over much of Africa and western Europe.Visibility map |
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 | 0.35600 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.64219 |
| Gamma | −1.36387 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 06h59m10.5s |
| Sun Declination | +22°44'23.3" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'43.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.6" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 18h59m12.6s |
| Moon Declination | -24°03'16.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'45.6" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°57'50.4" |
| ΔT | 69.7 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 5 Descending node | June 21 Ascending node | July 5 Descending node |
| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 111 | Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 137 | Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 149 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2020
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on January 10.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on June 5.
- An annular solar eclipse on June 21.A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 5.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on November 30.
- A total solar eclipse on December 14.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 2016
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 2013
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 17, 2027
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 1, 2011
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of July 11, 2029
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 2009
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 5, 2031
Lunar Saros 149
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 24, 2002
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2038
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1991
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2049
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 4, 1933
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 7, 2107
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 156.| July 1, 2011 | July 11, 2029 |