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February 1971 lunar eclipse

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February 1971 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Date10 February 1971
Gamma0.27413
Magnitude1.30819
Saros cycle123 (50 of 73)
Totality82 minutes, 11.4 seconds
Partiality204 minutes, 42.9 seconds
Penumbral369 minutes, 37.3 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P104:39:52.5
U105:52:17.4
U207:03:33.4
Greatest07:44:39.6
U308:25:44.8
U409:37:00.3
P410:49:29.8

A total lunar eclipse took place at the Moon's descending node of the orbit on Wednesday, February 10, 1971, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 1971. It had an umbral magnitude of 1.30819. The Moon narrowly missed the center of the Earth's shadow due its gamma being >0.2725 at 0.27413 . The Moon was plunged into darkness for 1 hour, 22 minutes and 11.4 seconds, in a deep total eclipse which saw the Moon 30.819% of its diameter inside the Earth's umbral shadow. The visual effect of this depends on the state of the Earth's atmosphere, but the Moon may have been stained a deep red colour. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours, 44 minutes and 42.9 seconds and in total. Occurring only 2.7 days before apogee (Apogee on Saturday, February 13, 1971), the Moon's apparent diameter was 5.9% smaller than average.

Visibility

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It was completely visible from North America, rising from Eastern Asia, Australia, and setting over South America, Europe and Africa.

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Lunar year series

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Lunar eclipse series sets from 1969–1973
Ascending node   Descending node
Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma
108 1969 Aug 27
Penumbral
−1.54066 113 1970 Feb 21
Partial
0.96198
118 1970 Aug 17
Partial
−0.80534 123 1971 Feb 10
Total
0.27413
128 1971 Aug 06
Total
−0.07944 133 1972 Jan 30
Total
−0.42729
138 1972 Jul 26
Partial
0.71167 143 1973 Jan 18
Penumbral
−1.08446
148 1973 Jul 15
Penumbral
1.51782
Last set 1969 Sep 25 Last set 1969 Apr 02
Next set 1973 Jun 15 Next set 1973 Dec 10

Saros series

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Lunar saros series 123, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has 25 total lunar eclipses. The first total lunar eclipse of this series was on July 16, 1628, and last will be on April 4, 2061. The two longest occurrence of this series were on September 20, 1736 and October 1, 1754 when totality lasted 106 minutes.


It last occurred on January 29, 1953 and will next occur on February 20, 1989.

Half-Saros cycle

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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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 130.

February 5, 1962 February 16, 1980

See also

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Notes

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