May 2004 lunar eclipse

{{Infobox lunar eclipse

| type = total

| image = Total lunar eclipse May 4 2004-Jpeter smith.jpg

| caption = Totality as viewed from Haifa, Israel

| date = May 4, 2004

| gamma = −0.3132

| magnitude = 1.3035

| saros_ser = 131

| saros_no = 33 of 72

| totality = 75 minutes, 28 seconds

| partiality = 203 minutes, 12 seconds

| penumbral = 315 minutes, 43 seconds

| p1 = 17:52:54

| u1 = 18:48:38

| u2 = 19:52:29

| greatest = 20:30:13

| u3 = 21:07:57

| u4 = 22:11:50

| p4 = 23:08:03

| previous = November 2003

| next = October 2004

}}

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Tuesday, May 4, 2004,{{cite web|title=May 4–5, 2004 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2004-may-4|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=12 November 2024}} with an umbral magnitude of 1.3035. 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 1.2 days before perigee (on May 6, 2004, at 0:30 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=2004&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=12 November 2024}}

This lunar eclipse is the third of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on May 16, 2003; November 9, 2004; and October 28, 2004.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over much of Africa, eastern Europe, Antarctica, and Asia, central, and south Asia, seen rising over South America, western Europe, and west Africa and setting over east Asia and Australia.{{cite web|title=Total Lunar Eclipse of 2004 May 04|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2004May04T.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 hourly motion across the Earth's shadow in the constellation of Libra.

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 2004 May 04|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2001-2100/LE2004May04Tprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=12 November 2024}}

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|+May 4, 2004 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

! Parameter

! Value

Penumbral Magnitude

| 2.26449

Umbral Magnitude

| 1.30536

Gamma

| −0.31320

Sun Right Ascension

| 02h48m55.8s

Sun Declination

| +16°14'51.5"

Sun Semi-Diameter

| 15'51.5"

Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 08.7"

Moon Right Ascension

| 14h48m25.1s

Moon Declination

| -16°32'22.6"

Moon Semi-Diameter

| 16'32.0"

Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax

| 1°00'40.8"

ΔT

| 64.5 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 April–May 2004

! April 19
Ascending node (new moon)
!! May 4
Descending node (full moon)

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| Partial solar eclipse
Solar Saros 119

Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 131

Related lunar eclipses

= Eclipses in 2004 =

= Metonic =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2000
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 2008

= Tzolkinex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2011

= Half-Saros =

Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 29, 1995
Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 10, 2013

= Tritos =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1993
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 4, 2015

= Lunar Saros 131 =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2022

= Inex =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1975
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 2033

= Triad =

Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 4, 1917
Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 5, 2091

= Lunar eclipses of 2002–2005 =

= Saros 131 =

= Metonic series =

= 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 138.

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!April 29, 1995

!May 10, 2013

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