March 1942 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, March 3, 1942, with an umbral magnitude of 1.5612. It was a 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 5.5 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern South America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, seen rising over North America and west and central South America and setting over much of Asia and western Australia.Eclipse details
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.| Parameter | Value |
| Penumbral Magnitude | 2.58789 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.56118 |
| Gamma | −0.15453 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 22h52m50.5s |
| Sun Declination | -07°08'24.4" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'08.0" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 10h52m40.2s |
| Moon Declination | +06°59'52.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'42.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°57'40.1" |
| ΔT | 25.4 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.| March 3 Ascending node | March 16 Descending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 122 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 148 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1942
A total lunar eclipse on March 3.- A partial solar eclipse on March 16.
- A partial solar eclipse on August 12.
- A total lunar eclipse on August 26.
- A partial solar eclipse on September 10.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 14, 1938
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 19, 1945
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 19, 1935
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1949
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 24, 1933
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 7, 1951
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1931
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 29, 1953
Lunar Saros 122
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1924
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1960
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 22, 1913
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 10, 1971
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 2, 1855
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 31, 2028
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 129.| February 24, 1933 | March 7, 1951 |