January 2018 lunar eclipse

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January 2018 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Totality as viewed from Lomita, California
Date31 January 2018
Gamma−0.3014
Magnitude1.3155
Saros cycle124 (49 of 74)
Totality76 minutes, 4 seconds
Partiality202 minutes, 44 seconds
Penumbral317 minutes, 12 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P110:51:15
U111:48:27
U212:51:47
Greatest13:29:50
U314:07:51
U415:11:11
P416:08:27

A total

perigee on 30 January and as such may be described as a "supermoon", when the Moon's distance from the Earth is less than 360,000 km (223,694 miles). The previous supermoon lunar eclipse was in September 2015.[1]

During the total lunar eclipse of Wednesday, 31 January 2018, the Moon was 360,202 km (only 202 km to be a Super Full Moon) (223,819 mi) from the Earth. A blue moon occurs because there are 2 full moons in the same calendar month, or if there are 4 full moons in the same season (third of four is blue moon). As this supermoon was also a

eastern hemisphere,[3] and otherwise before that on 31 March 1866.[4][5] The next occurrence will be on 31 January 2037, one metonic cycle
(19 years) later.

Background

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes within Earth's

umbra (shadow). As the eclipse begins, Earth's shadow first darkens the Moon slightly. Then, the shadow begins to "cover" part of the Moon, turning it a dark red-brown color (typically – the color can vary based on atmospheric conditions). The Moon appears to be reddish because of Rayleigh scattering (the same effect that causes sunsets to appear reddish) and the refraction of that light by Earth's atmosphere into its umbra.[6]

The following simulation shows the approximate appearance of the Moon passing through Earth's shadow. The northern portion of the Moon is closest to the center of the shadow, making it darkest and reddest in appearance.

"Super blue blood moon"

This was a "

apparent diameter or 14% larger in area, than an average full moon. The previous supermoon lunar eclipse was the September 2015 lunar eclipse.[1]

The full moon of 31 January 2018 was the second full moon that calendar month (in most time zones), making it, under one definition of the term, a "blue moon".

Additionally referencing the orange or red "blood" colors that occur during a lunar eclipse, media sources described the event as a "super blue blood Moon".[7]

Characteristics

Visibility

The

Western Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the eclipse was underway as the moon rose.[8]

Along the U.S.

Atlantic Seaboard, for instance, the Moon had only just begun to enter the darkest part of Earth's shadow, the umbra, at 6:48 a.m. EST when it disappeared from view below the west-northwest horizon. The duration of the total phase was 77 minutes, with the Moon tracking through the southern part of the Earth's shadow. During totality, the Moon's lower limb appeared brighter than the dark upper limb.[8]


Visibility map

Timing

Event timing by time zone
Eclipse
HST
AKST PST MST CST EST
UTC
MSK IST
ICT
CST
JST AEDT NZDT
Zone from UTC −10 h −9 h −8 h −7 h −6 h −5 h 0 h +3 h +5½ h +7 h +8 h +9 h +11 h +13 h
Penumbral eclipse begins 00:51 01:51 02:51 03:51 04:51 05:51 10:51 13:51 17:51 18:51 19:51 21:51 23:51
Partial eclipse begins 01:48 02:48 03:48 04:48 05:48 06:48 11:48 14:48 17:18 18:48 19:48 20:48 22:48 00:48
Total eclipse begins 02:52 03:52 04:52 05:52 06:52 12:52 15:52 18:22 19:52 20:52 21:52 23:52 01:52
Mid-eclipse 03:30 04:30 05:30 06:30 13:30 16:30 19:00 20:30 21:30 22:30 00:30 02:30
Total eclipse ends 04:08 05:08 06:08 07:08 14:08 17:08 19:38 21:08 22:08 23:08 01:08 03:08
Partial eclipse ends 05:11 06:11 07:11 15:11 18:11 20:41 22:11 23:11 00:11 02:11 04:11
Penumbral eclipse ends 06:08 07:08 16:08 19:08 21:38 23:08 00:08 01:08 03:08 05:08
  • Example in Aichi Prefecture, Japan: Penumbral lunar eclipse 20:23 (JST) Partial lunar eclipse 21:13 (JST) Partial lunar eclipse 21:43 (JST) Total lunar eclipse (blood moon) 21:55 (JST)
    Example in Aichi Prefecture, Japan:
    1. Penumbral lunar eclipse 20:23 (JST)
    2. Partial lunar eclipse 21:13 (JST)
    3. Partial lunar eclipse 21:43 (JST)
    4. Total lunar eclipse (blood moon) 21:55 (JST)

Gallery

North America

Asia and Middle East

  • Partial from Ilagan, Isabela
    Partial from
    Ilagan, Isabela
  • Hiroshima, Japan, 11:43 UTC
    Hiroshima, Japan
    , 11:43 UTC
  • Shinjyuku, Tokyo, 12:52 UTC
    Shinjyuku, Tokyo
    , 12:52 UTC
  • Chiang Mai, Thailand, 12:57 UTC
    Chiang Mai, Thailand
    , 12:57 UTC
  • Chōfu, Tokyo, 13:22 UTC
    Chōfu, Tokyo
    , 13:22 UTC
  • Guangzhou, China, 13:50 UTC
    Guangzhou, China
    , 13:50 UTC
  • Kerala, India, 14:03 UTC
    Kerala, India
    , 14:03 UTC
  • Novosibirsk, Russia, 14:06 UTC
    Novosibirsk, Russia
    , 14:06 UTC
  • George Town, Malaysia, 14:16 UTC
    George Town, Malaysia
    , 14:16 UTC
  • Singapore, 14:32 UTC
    Singapore, 14:32 UTC
  • From Kuwait at moonrise, 15:03 UTC
    From Kuwait at moonrise, 15:03 UTC
  • Nanjing, China, 15:10 UTC
    Nanjing, China
    , 15:10 UTC
  • From Russian Far East

Oceania

Related eclipses

Eclipses of 2018

The January 2018 lunar eclipse is the first

Saros cycle
124.

Lunar eclipse series sets from 2016–2020
Descending node   Ascending node
Saros Date Type
Viewing
Gamma Saros Date
Viewing
Type
Chart
Gamma
109 2016 Aug 18
Penumbral
1.56406 114
2017 Feb 11
Penumbral
−1.02548
119
2017 Aug 07
Partial
0.86690 124
2018 Jan 31
Total
−0.30143
129
2018 Jul 27
Total
0.11681 134
2019 Jan 21
Total
0.36842
139
2019 Jul 16
Partial
−0.64300 144
2020 Jan 10
Penumbral
1.07270
149 2020 Jul 05
Penumbral
−1.36387
Last set 2016 Sep 16 Last set 2016 Mar 23
Next set 2020 Jun 05 Next set 2020 Nov 30

A similar eclipse occurs on 31 January 2037, one metonic cycle of 19 years in the future.

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[9] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 131.

26 January 2009 6 February 2027

See also

  • List of lunar eclipses
  • List of 21st-century lunar eclipses

References

  1. ^ a b Super Blue Moon eclipse on January 31, Earthsky.org, January 30 2018
  2. ^ "'Super Blue Blood Moon' Coming Jan. 31, 2018". NASA. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  3. ^ Blue moon, based on the previous full moon, was either on November 30 or December 1, 1982 based on time zones.
  4. ^ Rare 'Super Blue Blood Moon' Coming—First in 35 Years, National Geographic, January 29, 2018
  5. ^ Mathewson, Samantha (30 January 2018). "The Super Blue Blood Moon Wednesday Is Something the US Hasn't Seen Since 1866". Space.com. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  6. ^ Fred Espenak & Jean Meeus. "Visual Appearance of Lunar Eclipses". NASA. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  7. ^ Gill, Victoria (31 January 2018). "Skywatchers see 'super blue blood Moon'". BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b Rao, Joe. "First Blue Moon Total Lunar Eclipse in 150 Years Coming This Month". Space.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  9. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros

External links