May 2003 lunar eclipse

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = total

| image = Lunar eclipse May 2003-TLR75.jpg

| caption = Totality as viewed from Minneapolis, MN, 3:17 UTC

| date = May 16, 2003

| gamma = 0.4123

| magnitude = 1.1294

| saros_ser = 121

| saros_no = 54 of 82

| totality = 51 minutes, 12 seconds

| partiality = 193 minutes, 53 seconds

| penumbral = 306 minutes, 31 seconds

| p1 = 1:06:53

| u1 = 2:03:11

| u2 = 3:14:26

| greatest = 3:40:09

| u3 = 4:05:51

| u4 = 5:17:05

| p4 = 6:13:24

| previous = November 2002

| next = November 2003

}}

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Friday, May 16, 2003,{{cite web|title=May 15–16, 2003 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2003-may-15|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=12 November 2024}} with an umbral magnitude of 1.1294. 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 only about 15 hours after perigee (on May 15, 2003, at 11:40 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=2003&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=12 November 2024}}

This lunar eclipse marks the beginning of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on November 9, 2003; May 4, 2004; and October 28, 2004. The previous series was in 1985 and 1986, starting with the May 1985 lunar eclipse. The next series was in 2014 and 2015, starting with the April 2014 lunar eclipse.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over eastern North America, South America, the Caribbean, Antarctica, and west Africa, seen rising over western North America and the Pacific Ocean and setting over Europe, west Asia, and much of Africa.{{cite web|title=Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003 May 16|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2003May16T.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=12 November 2024}}

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Hourly motion shown right to left

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The moon's path across the Earth's shadow near its descending node in Libra.

Gallery

Image:Lunar eclipse May 2003-TLR100.jpg|Wide Angle view from Minneapolis at 3:35 UTC, near greatest eclipse

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=Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003 May 16|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2001-2100/LE2003May16Tprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=12 November 2024}}

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|+May 16, 2003 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Penumbral Magnitude

| 2.07649

Umbral Magnitude

| 1.12938

Gamma

| 0.41234

Sun Right Ascension

| 03h30m07.2s

Sun Declination

| +18°59'20.2"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 15'49.2"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.7"

Moon Right Ascension

| 15h30m43.0s

Moon Declination

| -18°35'31.7"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 16'42.2"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 1°01'18.2"

ΔT

| 64.4 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 May 2003

! May 16
Descending node (full moon)
!! May 31
Ascending node (new moon)

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| Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 121

Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 147

Related eclipses

= Eclipses in 2003 =

= Metonic =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 28, 1999
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2007

= Tzolkinex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1996
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 26, 2010

= Half-Saros =

Preceded by: Solar eclipse of May 10, 1994
Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 20, 2012

= Tritos =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014

= Lunar Saros 121 =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1985
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 26, 2021

= Inex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1974
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 25, 2032

= Triad =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 15, 1916
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 15, 2090

= Lunar eclipses of 2002–2005 =

= Metonic series =

= Saros 121 =

= 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 annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 128.

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!May 10, 1994

!May 20, 2012

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