September 1978 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Saturday, September 16, 1978, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3268. 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 2.4 days after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over east Africa, eastern Europe, much of Asia, and western Australia, seen rising over eastern South America, western Europe, and west and central Africa and setting over northeast Asia and central and eastern Australia.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 | 2.30598 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.32683 |
| Gamma | 0.29510 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 11h36m19.9s |
| Sun Declination | +02°33'33.2" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'54.7" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 23h35m58.5s |
| Moon Declination | -02°16'47.0" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'15.0" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°59'38.4" |
| ΔT | 49.3 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 16 Descending node | October 2 Ascending node |
| Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 127 | Partial solar eclipse Solar Saros 153 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1978
- A total lunar eclipse on March 24.
- A partial solar eclipse on April 7.
- A total lunar eclipse on September 16.
- A partial solar eclipse on October 2.
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 29, 1974
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1982
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1971
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 28, 1985
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of September 11, 1969
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 23, 1987
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 1967
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 17, 1989
Lunar Saros 127
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 5, 1960
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 27, 1996
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 7, 1949
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 28, 2007
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 16, 1891
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 17, 2065
Lunar eclipses of 1977–1980
Saros 127
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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 134.| September 11, 1969 | September 23, 1987 |