October 1987 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, October 7, 1987, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0095. 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 3.1 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of North America, South America, west Africa, and western Europe, seen rising over northwestern North America and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over much of Africa, Europe, and west and central Asia.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 | 0.98640 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.00949 |
| Gamma | 1.01890 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 12h49m09.5s |
| Sun Declination | -05°16'24.7" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'00.1" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.8" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 00h47m14.4s |
| Moon Declination | +06°09'13.6" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'04.0" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°58'58.1" |
| ΔT | 55.6 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.| September 23 Descending node | October 7 Ascending node |
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 134 | Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 146 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1987
- A hybrid solar eclipse on March 29.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on April 14.
- An annular solar eclipse on September 23.
- '''A penumbral lunar eclipse on October 7.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 20, 1983
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1991
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1980
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1994
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 2, 1978
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of October 12, 1996
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 6, 1976
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 6, 1998
Lunar Saros 146
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 25, 1969
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 17, 2005
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 27, 1958
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 2016
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 6, 1900
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 7, 2074
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 partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 153.| October 2, 1978 | October 12, 1996 |