A total

lunar eclipse A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow. Such alignment occurs during an eclipse season, approximately every six months, during the full moon phase, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of the Earth ...

took place on Friday, May 16, 2003, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2003, the other being on November 9, 2003. A shallow total eclipse saw the Moon in relative darkness for 52 minutes and 3.1 seconds. The Moon was 12.938% of its diameter into the Earth's umbral shadow, and should have been significantly darkened. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours, 15 minutes and 3.1 seconds in total. Occurring only 0.5 days after perigee (Perigee on Thursday, May 15, 2003), the Moon's apparent diameter was 6.2% larger than average. At greatest eclipse the Moon was only 357,693 km (222,260 mi) from the Earth, making it a Super Full Moon. This lunar eclipse is first of a ''tetrad'', four total lunar eclipses in series. The previous series was in 1985 and 1986, starting with a

May 1985 lunar eclipse A total lunar eclipse took place on Saturday, May 4, 1985, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 1985, the second being on October 28, 1985. This lunar eclipse is first of a ''tetrad'', four total lunar eclipses in series. The last series was ...

. The next one was in 2014 and 2015, starting with the April 15, 2014 lunar eclipse.

Visibility

It was completely visible over central Pacific, North America, South America, Atlantic, Europe, Africa and extreme southwestern Asia, seen rising over central Pacific and North America, and setting over Europe and Africa. In South America the entire eclipse was visible lasting just over 5 hours. Lunar eclipse from moon-2003May16

Gallery

Image:Lunar eclipse May 2003-TLR100.jpg, Wide Angle view from

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

at 3:35 UTC, near greatest eclipse

Relation to other lunar eclipses

Eclipse season An eclipse season is the period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Eclipse seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of the Moon's tilted orbital plane ( tilted five degrees to the Earth's orbital plane), just as Earth's we ...

This is the first eclipse this season. Second eclipse this season: 31 May 2003 Annular Solar Eclipse

Eclipses of 2003

* A total lunar eclipse on May 16. * An annular solar eclipse (one limit) on May 31. * A total lunar eclipse on November 9. * A total solar eclipse on November 23.

Lunar year series

It is also the second of four lunar year cycles, repeating every 354 days.

Metonic series

This eclipse is the second of four

Metonic cycle The Metonic cycle or enneadecaeteris (from grc, ἐννεακαιδεκαετηρίς, from ἐννεακαίδεκα, "nineteen") is a period of almost exactly 19 years after which the lunar phases recur at the same time of the year. The recu ...

lunar eclipses on the same date, May 15–16, each separated by 19 years.

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 128 Saros cycle series 128 for solar eclipse A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs during an ...

References

External links

Saros cycle 121
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2003-05 2003 in science May 2003 events {{lunar-eclipse-stub