May 1976 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Thursday, May 13, 1976, with an umbral magnitude of 0.1217. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in 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 1.1 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over central and east Africa, eastern Europe, the western half of Asia, western Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over eastern South America, west Africa, and western Europe and setting over east and northeast Asia and eastern 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 | 1.07612 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.12170 |
| Gamma | 0.95860 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 03h23m03.9s |
| Sun Declination | +18°33'49.8" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'49.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 15h23m42.3s |
| Moon Declination | -17°36'13.1" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'34.8" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'51.1" |
| ΔT | 46.9 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.| April 29 Descending node | May 13 Ascending node |
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 128 | Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 140 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1976
- An annular solar eclipse on April 29.A partial lunar eclipse on May 13.
- A total solar eclipse on October 23.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on November 6.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1972
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 1, 1980
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 2, 1969
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1983
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 1967
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 19, 1985
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1965
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 1987
Lunar Saros 140
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1958
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1994
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1947
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 2005
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 12, 1889
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2063
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 partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 147.| May 9, 1967 | May 19, 1985 |