March 1988 lunar eclipse
| Penumbral eclipse | |||||||||
 The Moon's hourly motion shown right to left | |||||||||
| Date | March 3, 1988 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | 0.9886 | ||||||||
| Magnitude | −0.0016 | ||||||||
| Saros cycle | 113 (62 of 71) | ||||||||
| Penumbral | 293 minutes, 45 seconds | ||||||||
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A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Thursday, March 3, 1988,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.0016. It was a relatively rare total penumbral lunar eclipse, with the Moon passing entirely within the penumbral shadow without entering the darker umbral shadow.[2] A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into the Earth's penumbra. 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. Occurring about 2.2 days after apogee (on March 1, 1988, at 11:50 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.[3]
Visibility
[edit]The eclipse was completely visible over most of Asia and Australia, seen rising over much of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East and setting over western North America and the central Pacific Ocean.[4]
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Eclipse details
[edit]Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[5]
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Penumbral Magnitude | 1.09076 |
| Umbral Magnitude | −0.00163 |
| Gamma | 0.98855 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 22h58m28.1s |
| Sun Declination | -06°33'42.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 16'07.8" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.9" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 11h00m10.4s |
| Moon Declination | +07°20'53.4" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 14'46.0" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°54'11.6" |
| ΔT | 55.8 s |
Eclipse season
[edit]This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) 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.
| March 3 Descending node (full moon) |
March 18 Ascending node (new moon) |
|---|---|
|
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| Penumbral lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 113 |
Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 139 |
Related eclipses
[edit]Eclipses in 1988
[edit]- A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 3.
- A total solar eclipse on March 18.
- A partial lunar eclipse on August 27.
- An annular solar eclipse on September 11.
Metonic
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 15, 1984
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 21, 1991
Tzolkinex
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 20, 1981
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 1995
Half-Saros
[edit]- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 26, 1979
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 9, 1997
Tritos
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1977
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 31, 1999
Lunar Saros 113
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 1970
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2006
Inex
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1959
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 2017
Triad
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 3, 1901
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 2, 2075
Lunar eclipses of 1988–1991
[edit]| Lunar eclipse series sets from 1988–1991 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descending node | Ascending node | |||||||
| Saros | Date viewing |
Type chart |
Gamma | Saros | Date viewing |
Type chart |
Gamma | |
| 113 | 1988 Mar 03
|
Penumbral
|
0.98855 | 118 | 1988 Aug 27
|
Partial
|
−0.86816 | |
| 123 | 1989 Feb 20
|
Total 
|
0.29347 | 128 | 1989 Aug 17
|
Total
|
−0.14905 | |
| 133 | 1990 Feb 09
|
Total
|
−0.41481 | 138 | 1990 Aug 06
|
Partial
|
0.63741 | |
| 143 | 1991 Jan 30
|
Penumbral
|
−1.07522 | 148 | 1991 Jul 26
|
Penumbral
|
1.43698 | |
| Last set | 1987 Apr 14 | Last set | 1987 Oct 07 | |||||
| Next set | 1991 Dec 21 | Next set | 1991 Jun 27 | |||||
Metonic series
[edit]The Metonic cycle repeats nearly exactly every 19 years and represents a Saros cycle plus one lunar year. Because it occurs on the same calendar date, the Earth's shadow will be in nearly the same location relative to the background stars.
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Saros 113
[edit]This eclipse is part of Saros cycle series 113.
Half-Saros cycle
[edit]A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[6] This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 120.
| February 26, 1979 | March 9, 1997 |
|---|---|
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See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "March 3–4, 1988 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ Total Penumbral Lunar Eclipses, Jean Meeus, June 1980
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1988 Mar 03" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ "Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1988 Mar 03". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
External links
[edit]- 1988 Mar 03 chart Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
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