March 1997 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, March 24, 1997, with an umbral magnitude of 0.9195. 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 3.2 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This lunar eclipse, a near total one, was the third of an almost tetrad, with the others being on April 4, 1996 ; September 27, 1996 ; and September 16, 1997.
This was the last of the first set of partial eclipses in Lunar Saros 132.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of North America and South America, seen rising over western North America and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, Europe, and west and central Asia.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 | 1.99936 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.91953 |
| Gamma | 0.48990 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 00h13m09.7s |
| Sun Declination | +01°25'31.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'02.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 12h13m42.1s |
| Moon Declination | -01°00'04.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'51.3" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'31.3" |
| ΔT | 62.4 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 9 Descending node | March 24 Ascending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 120 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 132 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1997
- A total solar eclipse on March 9.A partial lunar eclipse on March 24.
- A partial solar eclipse on September 2.
- A total lunar eclipse on September 16.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1993
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 2001
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 9, 1990
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 2004
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 18, 1988
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 2006
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 2008
Lunar Saros 132
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1979
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1968
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2026
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 24, 1910
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 22, 2084
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 18, 1988 | March 29, 2006 |