A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Thursday, April 4, 1996, with an umbral magnitude of 1.3795. It was a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. 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. The Moon's apparent diameter was near the average diameter because it occurred 6.9 days after apogee (on March 28, 1996, at 2:40 UTC) and 7.2 days before perigee (on April 11, 1996, at 3:45 UTC).
This lunar eclipse was the first of an almost tetrad, with the others being on September 27, 1996 (total); March 24, 1997 (partial); and September 16, 1997 (total).
This was the last central member and 55th overall member of Lunar Saros 122.
Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over eastern South America, Europe, and Africa, seen rising over much of North America and western and central South America and setting over much of Asia and western Australia.
Gallery Hamois, Belgium
Eclipse details Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
+April 4, 1996 lunar eclipse parameters Parameter Value Penumbral magnitude 2.40683 Umbral magnitude 1.37949 Gamma −0.25339 Sun right ascension 00h53m26.5s Sun declination +05°43'14.0" Sun semi-diameter 15'59.5" Sun equatorial morizontal parallax 08.8" Moon right ascension 12h53m09.4s Moon declination -05°57'04.2" Moon semi-diameter 15'33.9" Moon equatorial horizontal parallax 0°57'07.5" ΔT 61.8 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.
+ Eclipse season of April 1996 April 4Ascending node (full moon) April 17Descending node (new moon) Total lunar eclipseLunar Saros 122 Partial solar eclipseSolar Saros 148
Related eclipses Eclipses in 1996 A total lunar eclipse on April 4 A partial solar eclipse on April 17 A total lunar eclipse on September 27 A partial solar eclipse on October 12
Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2000
Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1989 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2003
Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 1987 Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 8, 2005
Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1985 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2007
Lunar Saros 122 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1978 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014
Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025
Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1909 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 2, 2083
Lunar eclipses of 1995–1998
Saros 122
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 hybrid solar eclipses of Solar Saros 129. March 29, 1987April 8, 2005
See also List of lunar eclipses List of 20th-century lunar eclipses
References
External links Saros cycle 122 Andrés Valencia: Total Lunar Eclipse - April 3 '96