March 1979 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, March 13, 1979, with an umbral magnitude of 0.8538. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in 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 3.5 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of Africa, Europe, and the western half of Asia, seen rising over eastern North America, South America, and west Africa and setting over east and northeast Asia and 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 | 1.93496 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.85377 |
| Gamma | 0.52537 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 23h33m09.8s |
| Sun Declination | -02°53'59.0" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'05.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 11h33m44.4s |
| Moon Declination | +03°21'20.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'52.9" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'36.9" |
| ΔT | 49.7 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.| February 26 Descending node | March 13 Ascending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 120 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 132 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1979
- A total solar eclipse on February 26.A partial lunar eclipse on March 13.
- An annular solar eclipse on August 22.
- A total lunar eclipse on September 6.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 30, 1982
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 30, 1972
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 7, 1970
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 18, 1988
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1968
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 9, 1990
Lunar Saros 132
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 2, 1961
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1950
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 2008
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 11, 1892
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 11, 2066
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 139.| March 7, 1970 | March 18, 1988 |