February 1944 lunar eclipse

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = penumbral

| image = Lunar eclipse chart close-1944Feb09.png

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

| date = February 9, 1944

| gamma = 1.2698

| magnitude = −0.5223

| saros_ser = 142

| saros_no = 14 of 74

| penumbral = 226 minutes, 39 seconds

| p1 = 3:21:09

| greatest = 5:14:30

| p4 = 7:07:48

| previous = August 1943

| next = July 1944

}}

A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, February 9, 1944,{{cite web|title=February 8–9, 1944 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/1944-february-9|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=19 December 2024}} with an umbral magnitude of −0.5223. 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 1.1 days before apogee (on February 10, 1944, at 7:45 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.{{cite web|title=Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/distance.html?year=1944&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=19 December 2024}}

This eclipse was the first of four penumbral lunar eclipses in 1944, with the others occurring on July 6, August 4, and December 29.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over North and South America, west Africa, and western Europe, seen rising over northeast Asia and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.{{cite web|title=Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 1944 Feb 09|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot1901/LE1944Feb09N.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=19 December 2024}}

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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 1944 Feb 09|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/1901-2000/LE1944Feb09Nprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=19 December 2024}}

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|+February 9, 1944 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Penumbral Magnitude

| 0.57926

Umbral Magnitude

| −0.52225

Gamma

| 1.26983

Sun Right Ascension

| 21h27m03.0s

Sun Declination

| -15°01'28.5"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 16'12.7"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.9"

Moon Right Ascension

| 09h28m05.2s

Moon Declination

| +16°08'24.5"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 14'43.1"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 0°54'00.8"

ΔT

| 26.4 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 January–February 1944

! January 25
Descending node (new moon) !! February 9
Ascending node (full moon)

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| Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 130

Penumbral lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 142

Related eclipses

= Eclipses in 1944 =

A total solar eclipse on January 25.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on February 9.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on July 6.
An annular solar eclipse on July 20.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on August 4.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on December 29.

= Metonic =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 22, 1940
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of November 28, 1947

= Tzolkinex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of December 28, 1936
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 23, 1951

= Half-Saros =

Preceded by: Solar eclipse of February 3, 1935
Followed by: Solar eclipse of February 14, 1953

= Tritos =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 12, 1933
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 8, 1955

= Lunar Saros 142 =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of January 28, 1926
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 19, 1962

= Inex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 1, 1915
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 18, 1973

= Triad =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 9, 1857
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of December 9, 2030

= Lunar eclipses of 1940–1944 =

= Saros 142 =

= 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 total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 149.

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