July 1972 lunar eclipse

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = partial

| image = Lunar eclipse chart close-1972Jul26.png

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

| date = July 26, 1972

| gamma = 0.7117

| magnitude = 0.5427

| saros_ser = 138

| saros_no = 27 of 83

| partiality = 160 minutes, 8 seconds

| penumbral = 312 minutes, 27 seconds

| p1 = 4:39:26

| u1 = 5:55:39

| greatest = 7:15:39

| u4 = 8:35:47

| p4 = 9:51:52

| previous = January 1972

| next = January 1973

}}

A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, July 26, 1972,{{cite web|title=July 25–26, 1972 Partial Lunar Eclipse|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/1972-july-26|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=3 January 2025}} with an umbral magnitude of 0.5427. 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 about 6.4 days after apogee (on July 19, 1972, at 21:20 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=1972&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=3 January 2025}}

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over much of North and South America and Antarctica, seen rising over Australia, northwestern North America]], and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over northeastern North America, west Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean.{{cite web|title=Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1972 Jul 26|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot1951/LE1972Jul26P.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=3 January 2025}}

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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=Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1972 Jul 26|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/1901-2000/LE1972Jul26Pprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=3 January 2025}}

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|+July 26, 1972 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Penumbral Magnitude

| 1.56180

Umbral Magnitude

| 0.54271

Gamma

| 0.71167

Sun Right Ascension

| 08h22m46.8s

Sun Declination

| +19°24'04.5"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 15'44.9"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.7"

Moon Right Ascension

| 20h21m51.2s

Moon Declination

| -18°45'55.3"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 15'27.2"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 0°56'42.9"

ΔT

| 42.8 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 July 1972

! July 10
Descending node (new moon)
!! July 26
Ascending node (full moon)

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| Total solar eclipse
Solar Saros 126

Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 138

Related eclipses

= Eclipses in 1972 =

= Metonic =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 6, 1968
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 13, 1976

= Tzolkinex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1965
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 6, 1979

= Half-Saros =

Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 20, 1963
Followed by: Solar eclipse of July 31, 1981

= Tritos =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1961
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1983

= Lunar Saros 138 =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 1954
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1990

= Inex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 15, 1943
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 5, 2001

= Triad =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 24, 1885
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 27, 2059

= Lunar eclipses of 1969–1973 =

= Saros 138 =

= 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 145.

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