May 1939 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, May 3, 1939, with an umbral magnitude of 1.1765. 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 5.2 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This lunar eclipse was the third of an almost tetrad, with the others being on May 14, 1938 ; November 7, 1938 ; and October 28, 1939.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over east Asia, Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over central and east Africa, eastern Europe, and west, central, and south Asia and setting over western North America and the eastern 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 | 2.18417 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.17649 |
| Gamma | 0.36934 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 02h39m22.9s |
| Sun Declination | +15°31'43.2" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'51.8" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 14h39m41.4s |
| Moon Declination | -15°10'51.4" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'44.6" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°57'46.6" |
| ΔT | 24.2 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.| April 19, 1939|April 19] Descending node | May 3 Ascending node |
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 118 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 130 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1939
- An annular solar eclipse on April 19.A total lunar eclipse on May 3.
- A total solar eclipse on October 12.
- A partial lunar eclipse on October 28.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 1935
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1943
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 22, 1932
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1946
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [April 28, 1930]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 1948
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1928
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1950
Lunar Saros 130
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 22, 1921
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 13, 1957
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 24, 1910
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1968
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 1, 1852
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2026
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 137.| April 28, 1930 | May 9, 1948 |