May 1957 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, May 13, 1957, with an umbral magnitude of 1.2982. 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 3.25 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 24, 1956 ; November 18, 1956 ; and November 7, 1957.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Antarctica, seen rising over eastern North America and South America and setting over much of 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 | 2.30005 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.29822 |
| Gamma | 0.30457 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 03h21m53.2s |
| Sun Declination | +18°29'35.8" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'49.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 15h22m04.8s |
| Moon Declination | -18°12'09.6" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'47.7" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°57'58.1" |
| ΔT | 32.0 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.| April 30, 1957|April 30] Descending node | May 13 Ascending node |
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 118 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 130 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1957
- A non-central annular solar eclipse on April 30.
- A total lunar eclipse on May 13.
- A non-central total solar eclipse on October 23.
- A total lunar eclipse on November 7.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1953
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 2, 1961
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1950
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1964
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [May 9, 1948]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of [May 20, 1966]
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1946
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1968
Lunar Saros 130
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1939
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1928
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 12, 1870
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 2044
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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 137.| May 9, 1948 | May 20, 1966 |