May 1957 lunar eclipse

{{Short description|Total lunar eclipse May 13, 1957}}

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = total

| image = Lunar eclipse chart close-1957May13.png

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

| date = May 13, 1957

| gamma = 0.3046

| magnitude = 1.2982

| saros_ser = 130

| saros_no = 31 of 72

| totality = 77 minutes, 39 seconds

| partiality = 211 minutes, 36 seconds

| penumbral = 334 minutes, 57 seconds

| p1 = 19:43:30

| u1 = 20:45:06

| u2 = 21:52:05

| greatest = 22:30:56

| u3 = 23:09:44

| u4 = 0:16:42

| p4 = 1:18:27

| previous = November 1956

| next = November 1957

}}

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, May 13, 1957,{{cite web|title=May 13–14, 1957 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/1957-may-13|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=25 December 2024}} with an umbral magnitude of 1.2982. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow. 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. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's shadow is smaller. Occurring about 3.25 days after perigee (on May 9, 1957, at 4:30 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=1957&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=25 December 2024}}

This lunar eclipse was the third of an almost tetrad, with the others being on May 24, 1956 (partial); November 18, 1956 (total); and November 7, 1957 (total).