March 1959 lunar eclipse

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = partial

| image = Lunar eclipse chart close-1959Mar24.png

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

| date = March 24, 1959

| gamma = −0.8757

| magnitude = 0.2643

| saros_ser = 112

| saros_no = 62 of 72

| partiality = 109 minutes, 32 seconds

| penumbral = 268 minutes, 11 seconds

| p1 = 17:57:20

| u1 = 19:16:42

| greatest = 20:11:24

| u4 = 21:06:14

| p4 = 22:25:31

| previous = October 1958

| next = September 1959

}}

A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, March 24, 1959,{{cite web|title=March 24–25, 1959 Partial Lunar Eclipse|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/1959-march-24|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=29 December 2024}} with an umbral magnitude of 0.2643. 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 1.5 days before perigee (on March 26, 1959, at 9:25 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=1959&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=29 December 2024}}

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over much of Africa, Europe, and Asia, seen rising over eastern South America, west Africa, and western Europe and setting over northeast Asia and Australia.{{cite web|title=Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1959 Mar 24|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot1951/LE1959Mar24P.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=29 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=Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1958 Mar 24|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/1901-2000/LE1959Mar24Pprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=29 December 2024}}

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|+March 24, 1959 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Penumbral Magnitude

| 1.23788

Umbral Magnitude

| 0.26428

Gamma

| −0.87571

Sun Right Ascension

| 00h12m37.9s

Sun Declination

| +01°22'05.8"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 16'02.4"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.8"

Moon Right Ascension

| 12h11m33.0s

Moon Declination

| -02°12'30.0"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 16'28.5"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 1°00'27.8"

ΔT

| 32.8 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 March–April 1959

! March 24
Ascending node (full moon)

April 8
Descending node (new moon)

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| Partial lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 112

Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 138

Related eclipses

= Eclipses in 1959 =

A partial lunar eclipse on March 24.
An annular solar eclipse on April 8.
A penumbral lunar eclipse on September 17.
A total solar eclipse on October 2.

= Metonic =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 5, 1955
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 9, 1963

= Tzolkinex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 11, 1952
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1966

= Half-Saros =

Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 18, 1950
Followed by: Solar eclipse of March 28, 1968

= Tritos =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 23, 1948
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 1970

= Lunar Saros 112 =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 1941
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1977

= Inex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1930
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 1988

= Triad =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 22, 1872
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 22, 2046

= Lunar eclipses of 1958–1962 =

= Saros 112 =

= 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 solar eclipses of Solar Saros 119.

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