September 1960 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Monday, September 5, 1960, with an umbral magnitude of 1.4239. It was a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. 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 2.5 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern Australia, northeast Asia, and northwestern North America, seen rising over western Australia and the eastern half of Asia and setting over North and South America.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 | 2.40311 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.42386 |
| Gamma | 0.24219 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 10h56m53.2s |
| Sun Declination | +06°43'28.1" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'52.0" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 22h56m36.4s |
| Moon Declination | -06°29'41.1" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'12.2" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°59'28.1" |
| ΔT | 33.5 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 5 Descending node | September 20 Ascending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 127 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 153 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1960
- A total lunar eclipse on March 13.
- A partial solar eclipse on March 27.A total lunar eclipse on September 5.
- A partial solar eclipse on September 20.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1956
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1964
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1953
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1967
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of September 1, 1951
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 11, 1969
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 7, 1949
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1971
Lunar Saros 127
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1942
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1978
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 26, 1931
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 17, 1989
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 4, 1873
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 7, 2047
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 134.| September 1, 1951 | September 11, 1969 |