September 1959 lunar eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Thursday, September 17, 1959, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0495. 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 6.1 days before apogee, the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over South America, Africa, and Europe, seen rising over North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean and setting over the western half of Asia.Eclipse details
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.| Parameter | Value |
| Penumbral Magnitude | 0.98742 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.04953 |
| Gamma | 1.02963 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 11h35m46.2s |
| Sun Declination | +02°37'11.9" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'54.7" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 23h34m35.7s |
| Moon Declination | -01°41'57.4" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'20.7" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°56'19.0" |
| ΔT | 33.0 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 17 Descending node | October 2 Ascending node |
| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 117 | Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 143 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1959
- A partial lunar eclipse on March 24.
- An annular solar eclipse on April 8.
- A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 17.
- A total solar eclipse on October 2.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1955
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1963
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 5, 1952
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 29, 1966
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of September 12, 1950
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 22, 1968
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1948
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 17, 1970
Lunar Saros 117
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1941
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 27, 1977
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 7, 1930
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 27, 1988
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 15, 1872
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 18, 2046
Lunar eclipses of 1958–1962
Saros 117
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 124.| September 12, 1950 | September 22, 1968 |