May 2004 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Tuesday, May 4, 2004, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3035. 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 1.2 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This lunar eclipse is the third of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on May 16, 2003; November 9, 2004; and October 28, 2004.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of Africa, eastern Europe, Antarctica, and Asia, central, and south Asia, seen rising over South America, western Europe, and west Africa and setting over east Asia and 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 | 2.26449 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.30536 |
| Gamma | −0.31320 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 02h48m55.8s |
| Sun Declination | +16°14'51.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'51.5" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 14h48m25.1s |
| Moon Declination | -16°32'22.6" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'32.0" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°00'40.8" |
| ΔT | 64.5 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 Ascending node | May 4 Descending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 119 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 131 |
Related lunar eclipses
Eclipses in 2004
- A partial solar eclipse on April 19.A total lunar eclipse on May 4.
- A partial solar eclipse on October 14.
- A total lunar eclipse on October 28.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2000
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 2008
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2011
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 29, 1995
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 10, 2013
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1993
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015
Lunar Saros 131
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2022
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 2033
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 4, 1917
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 5, 2091
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 138.| April 29, 1995 | May 10, 2013 |