October 2004 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Thursday, October 28, 2004, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3100. 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 5.4 days before apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
This lunar eclipse is the last of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on May 16, 2003; November 9, 2004; and May 4, 2004.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over much of North and South America, west Africa, and western Europe, seen rising over western North America and the Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, eastern Europe, and west 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 | 2.36560 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.31001 |
| Gamma | 0.28465 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 14h11m00.6s |
| Sun Declination | -13°12'05.3" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'06.0" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 02h10m32.6s |
| Moon Declination | +13°26'29.6" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'15.1" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°55'58.4" |
| ΔT | 64.6 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 14 Descending node | October 28 Ascending node |
| Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 124 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 136 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 2004
- A partial solar eclipse on April 19.
- A total lunar eclipse on May 4.
- A partial solar eclipse on October 14.
- '''A total lunar eclipse on October 28.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 2001
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 16, 2008
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1997
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 10, 2011
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of October 24, 1995
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of November 3, 2013
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1993
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 28, 2015
Lunar Saros 136
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 17, 1986
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 8, 2022
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1975
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 8, 2033
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 28, 1917
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 29, 2091
Lunar eclipses of 2002–2005
Metonic series
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 solar eclipses of Solar Saros 143.| October 24, 1995 | November 3, 2013 |