September 1979 lunar eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Thursday, September 6, 1979, with an umbral magnitude of 1.0936. 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 only about 5 hours after perigee, the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.
Visibility
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern Australia, western North America, and the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, seen rising over the eastern half of Asia and western Australia and setting over North and South America.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 | 2.04211 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 1.09358 |
| Gamma | −0.43050 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 10h58m17.1s |
| Sun Declination | +06°34'46.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'52.1" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 22h58m48.1s |
| Moon Declination | -07°00'03.6" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 16'43.7" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 1°01'23.8" |
| ΔT | 50.2 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.| August 22, 1979|August 22] Ascending node | September 6 Descending node |
| Annular solar eclipse Solar Saros 125 | Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 137 |
Related eclipses
Eclipses in 1979
- A total solar eclipse on February 26.
- A partial lunar eclipse on March 13.
- An annular solar eclipse on August 22.
- '''A total lunar eclipse on September 6.'''
Metonic
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 18, 1975
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1983
Tzolkinex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 26, 1972
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 17, 1986
Half-Saros
- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 31, 1970
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of September 11, 1988
Tritos
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 6, 1968
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1990
Lunar Saros 137
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1961
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 16, 1997
Inex
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 26, 1950
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 16, 2008
Triad
- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 4, 1892
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 7, 2066
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 144.| August 31, 1970 | September 11, 1988 |