October 1948 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, October 18, 1948, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0571. It was a relatively rare total penumbral lunar eclipse, with the Moon passing entirely within the penumbral shadow without entering the darker umbral shadow. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into 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 4.2 days after apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern North America, South America, west Africa, and western Europe, seen rising over western North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean and setting over east Africa, eastern Europe, and the western half of Asia.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 | 1.01405 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.05712 |
| Gamma | −1.02452 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 13h31m13.7s |
| Sun Declination | -09°32'38.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'03.4" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 01h32m57.9s |
| Moon Declination | +08°42'28.9" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'59.4" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°55'00.9" |
| ΔT | 28.6 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.| October 18 Ascending node | November 1 Descending node |
| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 116 | Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 142 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1948
- A partial lunar eclipse on April 23.
- An annular solar eclipse on May 9.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on October 18.
- A total solar eclipse on November 1.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 29, 1944
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 5, 1952
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1941
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1955
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 12, 1939
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 23, 1957
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1937
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 17, 1959
Lunar Saros 116
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 7, 1930
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 29, 1966
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 7, 1919
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 27, 1977
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 17, 1861
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 19, 2035
Lunar eclipses of 1948–1951
Saros 116
Tritos series
Inex series
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 123.| October 12, 1939 | October 23, 1957 |