March 1978 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, March 24, 1978, with an umbral magnitude of 1.4518. 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. The Moon's apparent diameter was near the average diameter because it occurred 7.1 days after apogee and 6.6 days before perigee.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of Asia and Australia, seen rising over Africa, Europe, and west and central Asia and setting over western North America 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.| Parameter | Value |
| Penumbral Magnitude | 2.47900 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.45179 |
| Gamma | −0.21402 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 00h13m28.3s |
| Sun Declination | +01°27'32.7" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'02.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 12h13m13.4s |
| Moon Declination | -01°39'13.7" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'36.9" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°57'18.4" |
| ΔT | 48.8 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 24 Ascending node | April 7 Descending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 122 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 148 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1978
A total lunar eclipse on March 24.- A partial solar eclipse on April 7.
- A total lunar eclipse on September 16.
- A partial solar eclipse on October 2.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1974
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 1982
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 10, 1971
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1985
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 18, 1969
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 1987
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1989
Lunar Saros 122
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1960
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1996
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1949
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2007
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 23, 1891
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 22, 2065
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 solar eclipses of Solar Saros 129.| March 18, 1969 | March 29, 1987 |