A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of orbit on Friday, May 5, 2023, with an umbral magnitude of −0.0438. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into 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 5.5 days before perigee (04:57 UTC, May 11), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger than average.
This was the deepest penumbral eclipse since February 2017 and until August 2053.
Visibility The eclipse was completely visible over Asia, Australia, and Antarctica, seen rising over Africa and Europe and setting over the central Pacific Ocean.
Visibility map
Gallery
Eclipse details Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.
+May 5, 2023 Lunar Eclipse Parameters Parameter Value Penumbral Magnitude 0.96551 Umbral Magnitude −0.04378 Gamma −1.03495 Sun Right Ascension 02h 49m 59.7s Sun Declination +16° 19 27.9 Sun Semi-Diameter 15 51.6 Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.7 Moon Right Ascension 14h 48m 23.5s Moon Declination −17° 14 31.7 Moon Semi-Diameter 15 42.8 Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0° 57 40.1 ΔT 69.2 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–May 2023 April 20Ascending node (new moon) May 5Descending node (full moon) Hybrid solar eclipseSolar Saros 129 Penumbral lunar eclipseLunar Saros 141
Related eclipses Eclipses in 2023 A hybrid solar eclipse on April 20. A penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5. An annular solar eclipse on October 14. A partial lunar eclipse on October 28.
Metonic Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 16, 2019 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 20, 2027
Tzolkinex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 23, 2016 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2030
Half-Saros Preceded by: Solar eclipse of April 29, 2014 Followed by: Solar eclipse of May 9, 2032
Tritos Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 4, 2012 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 3, 2034
Lunar Saros 141 Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 2005 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2041
Inex Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 25, 1994 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 2052
Triad Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of July 4, 1936 Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 6, 2110
Lunar eclipses of 2020–2023
Metonic series
Saros 141
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 148. April 29, 2014May 9, 2032
See also List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses
References
External links cycle 141