September 1950 lunar eclipse


A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, September 26, 1950, with an umbral magnitude of 1.0783. 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 5.1 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 13, 1949; October 7, 1949; and April 2, 1950.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over much of North and South America, seen rising over northwestern North America and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
ParameterValue
Penumbral Magnitude2.13305
Umbral Magnitude1.07834
Gamma0.41012
Sun Right Ascension12h09m13.2s
Sun Declination-00°59'57.3"
Sun Semi-Diameter15'57.2"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax08.8"
Moon Right Ascension00h08m28.8s
Moon Declination+01°19'50.3"
Moon Semi-Diameter15'07.6"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax0°55'30.9"
ΔT29.4 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 12
Descending node
September 26
Ascending node
Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 124
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 136

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 1950

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.
September 21, 1941October 2, 1959