June 1946 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Friday, June 14, 1946, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3983. It was a central lunar eclipses|central lunar eclipse], in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. 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 1.8 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This was the first central lunar eclipse of Lunar Saros 129.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over east Africa, central, south, and southeast Asia, western Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over much of Africa, eastern South America, Europe, and west Asia and setting over northeast Asia and eastern Australia.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 | 2.46538 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.39833 |
| Gamma | −0.23239 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 05h29m50.7s |
| Sun Declination | +23°15'55.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'44.7" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 17h29m42.4s |
| Moon Declination | -23°28'21.8" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'45.4" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'09.4" |
| ΔT | 27.6 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.| May 30, 1946|May 30] Ascending node | June 14 Descending node | June 29, 1946|June 29] Ascending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 117 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 129 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 155 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1946
- A partial solar eclipse on January 3.
- A partial solar eclipse on May 30.A total lunar eclipse on June 14.
- A partial solar eclipse on June 29.
- A partial solar eclipse on November 23.
- A total lunar eclipse on December 8.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1942
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1950
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1939
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1953
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of June 8, 1937
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [June 20, 1955]
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 1935
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 13, 1957
Lunar Saros 129
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1928
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1964
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 4, 1917
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 13, 1859
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 2033
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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 136.| June 8, 1937 | June 20, 1955 |