March 1951 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Friday, March 23, 1951, with an umbral magnitude of −0.3660. 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 3.9 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This eclipse was the second of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 1951, with the others occurring on February 21, August 17, and September 15.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia, eastern Australia, and western North America, seen rising over east and southeast Asia and western Australia and setting over eastern North America and South America.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 | 0.64195 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.36599 |
| Gamma | −1.20994 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 00h07m18.6s |
| Sun Declination | +00°47'32.7" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'02.8" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 12h05m01.7s |
| Moon Declination | -01°49'23.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'55.2" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°58'25.6" |
| ΔT | 29.6 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.| February 21 Descending node | March 7 Ascending node | March 23 Descending node |
| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 103 | Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 129 | Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 141 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1951
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 21.
- An annular solar eclipse on March 7.A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 23.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 17.
- An annular solar eclipse on September 1.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 15.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1947
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 8, 1955
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 9, 1944
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1958
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 16, 1942
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 27, 1960
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 22, 1940
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 19, 1962
Lunar Saros 141
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 12, 1933
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1969
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 11, 1922
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 1, 1980
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 21, 1864
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2038
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 148.| March 16, 1942 | March 27, 1960 |