March 2006 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Tuesday, March 14, 2006, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0584. It was a relatively rare total penumbral lunar eclipse, with the Moon passing entirely within the penumbral shadow without entering the darker umbral shadow. 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 2.2 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible much of Africa, eastern South America, Europe, and west Asia, seen rising over North and 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 | 1.03205 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.05835 |
| Gamma | 1.02106 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 23h38m54.0s |
| Sun Declination | -02°16'57.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'05.1" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 11h40m41.4s |
| Moon Declination | +03°05'17.9" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'45.1" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'08.3" |
| ΔT | 65.0 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 14 Descending node | March 29 Ascending node |
| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 113 | Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 139 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2006
A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 14.- A total solar eclipse on March 29.
- A partial lunar eclipse on September 7.
- An annular solar eclipse on September 22.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 26, 2002
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 31, 2009
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 31, 1999
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 25, 2013
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 9, 1997
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 20, 2015
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 1995
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 2017
Lunar Saros 113
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1988
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 25, 2024
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1977
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 22, 2035
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 15, 1919
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 12, 2093
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 120.| March 9, 1997 | March 20, 2015 |