May 2069 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse will occur at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, May 6, 2069, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3242. It will be a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon will pass 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 2.3 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter will be smaller.
This lunar eclipse will be the third of an almost tetrad, with the others being on May 17, 2068 ; November 9, 2068 ; and October 30, 2069.
This will be the first central eclipse of Lunar Saros 132.
The Moon will also occult the bright star Alpha Librae as seen from the southern hemisphere a few hours before greatest eclipse.
Visibility
The eclipse will be completely visible over western North America, Antarctica, and the eastern Pacific Ocean, seen rising over east Asia and Australia and setting over central and eastern North America and South America.The moon's hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Libra. |
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 | 2.39773 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.32418 |
| Gamma | 0.27172 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 02h55m56.2s |
| Sun Declination | +16°44'53.2" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'51.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 14h56m07.8s |
| Moon Declination | -16°30'25.4" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'46.2" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'12.3" |
| ΔT | 99.0 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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.| April 21, 2069|April 21] Descending node | May 6 Ascending node | May 20, 2069|May 20] Descending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 120 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 132 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 158 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2069
- A partial solar eclipse on April 21.
- A total lunar eclipse on May 6.
- A partial solar eclipse on May 20.
- A partial solar eclipse on October 15.
- A total lunar eclipse on October 30.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 17, 2065
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 22, 2073
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 25, 2062
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 17, 2076
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of [April 30, 2060]
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 11, 2078
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 6, 2058
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 2080
Lunar Saros 132
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 26, 2051
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 17, 2087
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 26, 2040
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2098
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1982
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 7, 2156
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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 139.| April 30, 2060 | May 11, 2078 |