August 1951 lunar eclipse

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = penumbral

| image = Lunar eclipse chart close-1951Aug17.png

| caption = The Moon's hourly motion shown right to left

| date = August 17, 1951

| gamma = −1.4828

| magnitude = −0.8455

| saros_ser = 108

| saros_no = 71 of 72

| penumbral = 93 minutes, 36 seconds

| p1 = 2:27:14

| greatest = 3:14:09

| p4 = 4:00:50

| previous = March 1951

| next = September 1951

}}

A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Friday, August 17, 1951,{{cite web|title=August 16–17, 1951 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/1951-august-17|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=21 December 2024}} with an umbral magnitude of −0.8455. 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 1.9 days after perigee (on August 15, 1951, at 5:05 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.{{cite web|title=Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/distance.html?year=1951&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=21 December 2024}}

This eclipse was the third of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 1951, with the others occurring on February 21, March 23, and September 15.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over eastern and central North America, South America, western Europe, and much of Africa, seen rising over northwestern North America and setting over Eastern Europe, east Africa, and the Middle East.{{cite web|title=Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1951 Aug 17|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot1951/LE1951Aug17N.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=21 December 2024}}

class=wikitable

|+ Simulated views of Earth from moon

!Center of moon

!Lunar north pole

300px

|300px

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.{{cite web|title=Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1951 Aug 17|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/1901-2000/LE1951Aug17Nprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=21 December 2024}}

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|+August 17, 1951 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Penumbral Magnitude

| 0.11962

Umbral Magnitude

| −0.84547

Gamma

| −1.48284

Sun Right Ascension

| 09h43m00.9s

Sun Declination

| +13°43'00.9"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 15'47.8"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.7"

Moon Right Ascension

| 21h45m34.5s

Moon Declination

| -15°03'57.5"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 16'22.1"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 1°00'04.5"

ΔT

| 29.7 s

Eclipse season

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. The first and last eclipse in this sequence is separated by one synodic month.

class="wikitable"

|+ Eclipse season of August–September 1951

! August 17
Ascending node (full moon) !! September 1
Descending node (new moon) !! September 15
Ascending node (full moon)

200px

align=center

| Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 108

Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 134

Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 146

Related eclipses

= Eclipses in 1951 =

A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 21.
An annular solar eclipse on March 7.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on March 23.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 17.
An annular solar eclipse on September 1.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 15.

= Metonic =

Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 5, 1955

= Tzolkinex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 6, 1944

= Half-Saros =

Preceded by: Solar eclipse of August 12, 1942

= Tritos =

Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 17, 1962

= Lunar Saros 108 =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 5, 1933
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 27, 1969

= Inex =

Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 27, 1980

= Triad =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 15, 1864
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 17, 2038

= Lunar eclipses of 1951–1955 =

= Metonic series =

= Saros 108 =

= 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 (a half saros).Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros This lunar eclipse is related to one partial solar eclipse of Solar Saros 115.