December 2009 lunar eclipse

A partial lunar eclipse was visible on December 31, 2009. It was the last and largest of four minor lunar eclipses in 2009. This lunar eclipse is also notable, because it occurred during a blue moon (a second full moon in December). The next eclipse on New Year's Eve and blue moon will occur on December 31, 2028.

Partial Lunar Eclipse
December 31, 2009

Near maximum eclipse from Munster, Ireland

The southern edge of the moon will be completely darken as the moon passes through the Earth's umbral shadow
Series (and member)115 (57 of 72)
Date31 December 2009
Duration (hr:mn:sc)
Partial0:59:58
Penumbral4:11:03
Contact times (UTC)
P117:17:08
U118:52:43
Greatest19:22:39
U419:52:41
P421:28:11

The moon's hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Gemini

Only a small portion of the Moon entered the Earth's umbral shadow, but there was a distinct darkening visible over the Moon's southern surface at greatest eclipse.

Visibility
NASA chart of the eclipse

It was visible from all of Africa, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Australia. In the Philippines, the lunar eclipse was started last January 1, 2010, when it was very visible at mid-dawn until before sunrise.


This simulation shows the view of the earth as viewed from the center of the moon at greatest eclipse. The partially eclipsed sun is visible above the north pole.

Map

Photos

Asia


Degania A, Israel

Europe

Eclipses of 2009

Lunar year (354 days)

This eclipse is the one of four lunar eclipses in a short-lived series. The lunar year series repeats after 12 lunations or 354 days (Shifting back about 10 days in sequential years). Because of the date shift, the Earth's shadow will be about 11 degrees west in sequential events.

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[1] This lunar eclipse is related to two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 122.

December 25, 2000 January 6, 2019

See also

References
  1. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros


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