July 1972 lunar eclipse
| Partial eclipse | |||||||||||||
 The Moon's hourly motion shown right to left | |||||||||||||
| Date | July 26, 1972 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamma | 0.7117 | ||||||||||||
| Magnitude | 0.5427 | ||||||||||||
| Saros cycle | 138 (27 of 83) | ||||||||||||
| Partiality | 160 minutes, 8 seconds | ||||||||||||
| Penumbral | 312 minutes, 27 seconds | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
A partial lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Wednesday, July 26, 1972,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 0.5427. 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 6.4 days after apogee (on July 19, 1972, at 21:20 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.[2]
Visibility
[edit]The eclipse was completely visible over much of North and South America and Antarctica, seen rising over Australia, northwestern North America]], and the central Pacific Ocean and setting over northeastern North America, west Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean.[3]
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Eclipse details
[edit]Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Penumbral Magnitude | 1.56180 |
| Umbral Magnitude | 0.54271 |
| Gamma | 0.71167 |
| Sun Right Ascension | 08h22m46.8s |
| Sun Declination | +19°24'04.5" |
| Sun Semi-Diameter | 15'44.9" |
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 08.7" |
| Moon Right Ascension | 20h21m51.2s |
| Moon Declination | -18°45'55.3" |
| Moon Semi-Diameter | 15'27.2" |
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax | 0°56'42.9" |
| ΔT | 42.8 s |
Eclipse season
[edit]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.
| July 10 Descending node (new moon) |
July 26 Ascending node (full moon) |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 126 |
Partial lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 138 |
Related eclipses
[edit]Eclipses in 1972
[edit]- An annular solar eclipse on January 16.
- A total lunar eclipse on January 30.
- A total solar eclipse on July 10.
- A partial lunar eclipse on July 26.
Metonic
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of October 6, 1968
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 13, 1976
Tzolkinex
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 14, 1965
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of September 6, 1979
Half-Saros
[edit]- Preceded by: Solar eclipse of July 20, 1963
- Followed by: Solar eclipse of July 31, 1981
Tritos
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 26, 1961
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 25, 1983
Lunar Saros 138
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 1954
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of August 6, 1990
Inex
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of August 15, 1943
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of July 5, 2001
Triad
[edit]- Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of September 24, 1885
- Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 27, 2059
Lunar eclipses of 1969–1973
[edit]| Lunar eclipse series sets from 1969–1973 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending node | Descending node | |||||||
| Saros | Date Viewing |
Type Chart |
Gamma | Saros | Date Viewing |
Type Chart |
Gamma | |
| 108 | 1969 Aug 27
|
Penumbral
|
−1.54066 | 113 | 1970 Feb 21
|
Partial
|
0.96198 | |
| 118 | 1970 Aug 17
|
Partial
|
−0.80534 | 123 | 1971 Feb 10
|
Total
|
0.27413 | |
| 128 | 1971 Aug 06
|
Total
|
−0.07944 | 133 | 1972 Jan 30
|
Total
|
−0.42729 | |
| 138 | 1972 Jul 26
|
Partial
|
0.71167 | 143 | 1973 Jan 18
|
Penumbral
|
−1.08446 | |
| 148 | 1973 Jul 15
|
Penumbral
|
1.51782 | |||||
| Last set | 1969 Sep 25 | Last set | 1969 Apr 02 | |||||
| Next set | 1973 Jun 15 | Next set | 1973 Dec 10 | |||||
Half-Saros cycle
[edit]A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[5] This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 145.
| July 20, 1963 | July 31, 1981 |
|---|---|
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See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "July 25–26, 1972 Partial Lunar Eclipse". timeanddate. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1972 Jul 26" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Partial Lunar Eclipse of 1972 Jul 26". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
External links
[edit]- 1972 Jul 26 chart Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
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