October 1968 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Sunday, October 6, 1968, with an umbral magnitude of 1.1691. 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 5.3 days before apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This lunar eclipse was the last of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on April 24, 1967; October 18, 1967; and April 13, 1968.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia, eastern Australia, northwestern North America and much of the Pacific Ocean, seen rising over most of Asia and western Australia and setting over North and South America.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 | 2.22423 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.16913 |
| Gamma | 0.36054 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 12h48m51.9s |
| Sun Declination | -05°14'36.0" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'00.2" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 00h48m13.3s |
| Moon Declination | +05°32'13.0" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'10.1" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°55'39.9" |
| ΔT | 39.0 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.| September 22 Descending node | October 6 Ascending node |
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 124 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 136 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1968
- A partial solar eclipse on March 28.
- A total lunar eclipse on April 13.
- A total solar eclipse on September 22.
- '''A total lunar eclipse on October 6.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 19, 1964
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1972
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1961
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1975
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 2, 1959
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 12, 1977
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 7, 1957
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 6, 1979
Lunar Saros 136
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 26, 1950
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 17, 1986
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1939
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1997
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 5, 1881
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 7, 2055
Lunar eclipses of 1966–1969
Saros 136
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 143.| October 2, 1959 | October 12, 1977 |