October 1986 lunar eclipse


A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, October 17, 1986, with an umbral magnitude of 1.2455. 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 5.5 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 May 4, 1985; October 28, 1985; and April 24, 1986.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over east Africa, eastern Europe, and Asia, seen rising over northeastern North America, eastern South America, western Europe, and west Africa and setting over Australia, northeast Asia, and the western Pacific Ocean.

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.30082
Umbral Magnitude1.24545
Gamma0.31887
Sun Right Ascension13h29m20.1s
Sun Declination-09°21'26.2"
Sun Semi-Diameter16'03.1"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension01h28m47.0s
Moon Declination+09°37'14.9"
Moon Semi-Diameter15'12.6"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°55'49.1"
ΔT55.2 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 3
Descending node
October 17
Ascending node
Hybrid solar eclipse
Solar Saros 124		Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 136

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1986

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 136

Inex

Triad

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 12, 1977October 24, 1995