May 2021 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, with an umbral magnitude of 1.0112. 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 only about 14 hours after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
It was the first total lunar eclipse since the January 2019 lunar eclipse, and the first in a series of an almost tetrad. The next total eclipse occurred in May 2022. The event took place near lunar perigee; as a result, this supermoon was referred to in US media coverage as a "super flower blood moon", and elsewhere as a "super blood moon".
This lunar eclipse was the first of an almost tetrad, with the others being on November 19, 2021 ; May 16, 2022 ; and November 8, 2022.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over Australia and the central Pacific Ocean, seen rising over south and east Asia and setting over North and South America.Visibility map |
Timing
Local times are recomputed here for the time zones of the areas where the eclipse was visible: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 | 1.95575 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.01120 |
| Gamma | 0.47741 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 04h14m03.6s |
| Sun Declination | +21°12'25.4" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'47.3" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 16h14m37.8s |
| Moon Declination | -20°44'15.0" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'42.9" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'20.5" |
| ΔT | 70.0 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.| May 26 Descending node | June 10 Ascending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 121 | Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 147 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2021
A total lunar eclipse on May 26.- An annular solar eclipse on June 10.
- A partial lunar eclipse on November 19.
- A total solar eclipse on December 4.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 7, 2017
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 2028
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 20, 2012
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of June 1, 2030
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 26, 2010
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 25, 2032
Lunar Saros 121
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2003
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 6, 2039
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 6, 2050
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1934
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 27, 2108
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 128.| May 20, 2012 | June 1, 2030 |