May 1938 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Saturday, May 14, 1938, with an umbral magnitude of 1.0966. 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. Occurring about 4.1 days before apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This lunar eclipse was the first of an almost tetrad, with the others being on November 7, 1938 ; May 3, 1939 ; and October 28, 1939.
This was the last total lunar eclipse of Lunar Saros 120.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over western North America, Antarctica, and the eastern Pacific Ocean, seen rising over east Asia and Australia and setting over eastern North America, South America, and west Africa.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 | 2.15402 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.09660 |
| Gamma | −0.39944 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 03h21m58.6s |
| Sun Declination | +18°30'04.2" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'49.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 15h21m44.2s |
| Moon Declination | -18°51'44.3" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'57.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'55.0" |
| ΔT | 24.0 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.| May 14 Ascending node | May 29, 1938|May 29] Descending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 120 | Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 146 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1938
A total lunar eclipse on May 14.- A total solar eclipse on May 29.
- A total lunar eclipse on November 7.
- A partial solar eclipse on November 21.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1934
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1942
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1931
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1945
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [May 9, 1929]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 20, 1947
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1927
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1949
Lunar Saros 120
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1920
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 24, 1956
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1909
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 13, 1851
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025
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 127.| May 9, 1929 | May 20, 1947 |