November 1956 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Sunday, November 18, 1956, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3172. 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 3.4 days before perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
This lunar eclipse was the second of an almost tetrad, with the others being on May 24, 1956 ; May 13, 1957 ; and November 7, 1957.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over North America and western South America, seen rising over northeast Asia and eastern Australia and setting over eastern South America, west and central Africa, and Europe.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 | 2.32849 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.31720 |
| Gamma | 0.29167 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 15h34m22.3s |
| Sun Declination | -19°14'20.7" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'11.0" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 03h34m12.2s |
| Moon Declination | +19°31'18.5" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'00.2" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°58'44.0" |
| ΔT | 31.8 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.| November 18 Descending node | December 2 Ascending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 125 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 151 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1956
- A partial lunar eclipse on May 24.
- A total solar eclipse on June 8.A total lunar eclipse on November 18.
- A partial solar eclipse on December 2.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 29, 1953
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1960
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 7, 1949
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 30, 1963
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of November 12, 1947
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 23, 1965
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 19, 1945
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1967
Lunar Saros 125
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 7, 1938
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1974
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 8, 1927
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1985
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 17, 1870
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 19, 2043
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 132.| November 12, 1947 | November 23, 1965 |