December 2009 lunar eclipse

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = partial

| image = December 2009 partial lunar eclipse-cropped.jpg

| caption = Partiality as viewed from Munster, Ireland, 19:43 UTC

| date = December 31, 2009

| gamma = 0.9765

| magnitude = 0.0779

| saros_ser = 115

| saros_no = 57 of 72

| totality =

| partiality = 59 minutes, 58 seconds

| penumbral = 251 minutes, 3 seconds

| p1 = 17:17:08

| u1 = 18:52:43

| u2 =

| greatest = 19:22:39

| u3 =

| u4 = 19:52:41

| p4 = 21:28:11

| previous = August 2009

| next = June 2010

}}

A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Thursday, December 31, 2009,{{cite web|title=December 31, 2009–January 1, 2010 Partial Lunar Eclipse|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2009-december-31|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=15 November 2024}} with an umbral magnitude of 0.0779. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when one part of the Moon is in the Earth's umbra, while the other part is in 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 only about 20 hours before perigee (on January 1, 2010, at 15:30 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=2010&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=15 November 2024}}

This eclipse was the last of four lunar eclipses in 2009, with the others occurring on February 9 (penumbral), July 7 (penumbral), and August 6 (penumbral).

This lunar eclipse was also notable, because it occurred during a blue moon (a second full moon in December) and was near perigee (making it a supermoon). The next eclipse on New Year's Eve and blue moon will occur on December 31, 2028.

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

The eclipse was completely visible over Europe, Asia, and much of Africa, seen rising over eastern North America and setting over Australia and the Pacific Ocean.{{cite web|title=Partial Lunar Eclipse of 2009 Dec 31|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2009Dec31P.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=15 November 2024}}

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Hourly motion shown right to left

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

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Visibility map

Images

File:2009-12-31 Lunar Eclipse Sketch.png

Gallery

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Progression from Degania A, Israel

December 2009, Partial Lunar Eclipse, Sheffield UK.jpg|Sheffield, England, 19:14 UTC

December 2009 lunar eclipse seen in Qingdao, China.jpg|Qingdao, China, 19:16 UTC

Lunar eclipse in Laguja, Estonia (4236330913).jpg|Laguja, Estonia, 19:21 UTC

December 2009 lunar eclipse seen at Beijing.jpg|Beijing, China
At maximum, 19:22 UTC

Lunar Eclipse on January 1, 2010 (4232841796).jpg|Tokyo, Japan, 19:32 UTC

Dec 09 eclipse 01-crop.jpg|Chennai, India, 19:33 UTC

Lunarelcipse.barcelona.12312009.jpg|Barcelona, Spain, 19:34 UTC

Ε Ε Έκλειψη!!! (4231263459).jpg|Athens, Greece, 19:34 UTC

Kuu 9903.jpg|Helsinki, Finland, 19:47 UTC

December 2009 lunar eclipse.jpg|Nonthaburi, Thailand, 19:59 UTC

L'éclipse du 31 décembre 2009 (animation).gif|Belfort, France
Combined images

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=Partial Lunar Eclipse of 2009 Dec 31|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2001-2100/LE2009Dec31Pprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=15 November 2024}}

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|+December 31, 2009 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Penumbral Magnitude

| 1.05719

Umbral Magnitude

| 0.07793

Gamma

| 0.97660

Sun Right Ascension

| 18h44m37.2s

Sun Declination

| -23°02'33.1"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 16'15.9"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.9"

Moon Right Ascension

| 06h45m22.4s

Moon Declination

| +24°01'10.3"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 16'36.6"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 1°00'57.6"

ΔT

| 66.1 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.

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|+ Eclipse season of December 2009–January 2010

! December 31
Descending node (full moon)
!! January 15
Ascending node (new moon)

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| Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 115

Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 141

Related eclipses

= Eclipses in 2009 =

An annular solar eclipse on January 26.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 9.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 7.
A total solar eclipse on July 22.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 6.
A partial lunar eclipse on December 31.

= Metonic =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2006
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 18, 2013

= Tzolkinex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of November 20, 2002
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 2017

= Half-Saros =

Preceded by: Solar eclipse of December 25, 2000
Followed by: Solar eclipse of January 6, 2019

= Tritos =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 31, 1999
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 30, 2020

= Lunar Saros 115 =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 21, 1991
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 12, 2028

= Inex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 20, 1981
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 11, 2038

= Triad =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1923
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of October 31, 2096

= Lunar eclipses of 2009–2013 =

= Saros 115 =

= 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 two partial solar eclipses of Solar Saros 122.

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!December 25, 2000

!January 6, 2019

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