May 1975 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Sunday, May 25, 1975, with an umbral magnitude of 1.4253. It was a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. 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 4.4 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This was the first central lunar eclipse of Lunar Saros 130.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of North America, South America, and Antarctica, seen rising over eastern Australia, northwestern North America, and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over western Europe and Africa.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 | 2.42179 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.42533 |
| Gamma | 0.23674 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 04h05m34.7s |
| Sun Declination | +20°50'24.7" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'47.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 16h05m40.2s |
| Moon Declination | -20°36'42.2" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'50.9" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°58'09.7" |
| ΔT | 45.9 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 11 Descending node | May 25 Ascending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 118 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 130 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1975
- A partial solar eclipse on May 11.A total lunar eclipse on May 25.
- A partial solar eclipse on November 3.
- A total lunar eclipse on November 18.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1971
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1979
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1968
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1982
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 20, 1966
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 30, 1984
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1964
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
Lunar Saros 130
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 13, 1957
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1993
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1946
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 2004
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 23, 1888
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 25, 2062
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 20, 1966 | May 30, 1984 |