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Total Lunar Eclipse April 2014
Everything you need to know about the Total Lunar Eclipse 15 April 2014
First Eclipse of the Year occurs 15 April 2014.
The Total Lunar Eclipse belongs to the family of eclipses of Saros Series 122 and is member number 56 of 74
Fast Facts - important details - Eclipse Times
Total Lunar Eclipse 15 April 2014 - sequence of event
Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 04:53:37 UT/GMT
Partial Eclipse Begins: 05:58:19 UT/GMT
Total Eclipse Begins: 07:06:47 UT/GMT
Greatest Eclipse: 07:45:40 UT/GMT
Total Eclipse Ends: 08:24:35 UT/GMT
Partial Eclipse Ends: 09:33:04 UT.GMT
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 10:37:37 UT/GMT
Fast Facts - important details
Eclipse Duration, Magnitude, and saros number
15 April 2014 Eclipse Durations
Penumbral phase: 05 hours 44 minutes 00 seconds
Umbral phase: 03 hours 34 minutes 44 seconds
Total phase: 01 hours 17 minutes 48 seconds
Predicated Magnitude: 2.3183
Predicated Umbral Magnitude: 1.2907
Saros Series 122 – Member Number 56 of 74
First Eclipse of the Year occurs 15 April 2014
The first eclipse of the year occurs 15 April 2014. This eclipse is a Total Lunar Eclipse. It is the first total lunar eclipse in a sequence of four consecutive total lunar eclipses.; two Total Lunar Eclipse during 2014, and two Total Lunar Eclipse during 2015.
The April Total Lunar Eclipse 2014 occurs at the Moon’s ascending node in Virgo. The Moon's trajectory takes it through the southern half of Earth's umbral shadow. The Moon is not central to Earth’s umbra shadow, however the totality phase still lasts for nearly 78 minutes, so gives amply opportunity to observe this graceful event. The lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s orbit is about midway between apogee (08 April 2014; 14:53 UT/GMT) and perigee (23 April 2014; 00:28 UT/GMT) therefore the apparent diameter of the Moon is close to average.
The entire eclipse is visible from most of North America, including a tiny corner of south-east Alaska, and western South America
The entire eclipse is visible from most of the continent of North America, including a tiny corner of south-east Alaska, Central America, and the continent of western South America, but not Eastern USA, eastern Canada, western Alaska, and eastern continent of South America. Observers in the western Pacific miss the first half of the eclipse because the lunar eclipse occurs before moonrise. In Australia and New Zealand the eclipse is already in progress as the Moon rises. As far as extreme western Europe and west Africa is concerned, the event occurs at moonset just as the eclipse is beginning. The eclipse is not visible from north and east Europe, eastern Africa, the Middle East or Central Asia.
The world map shows regions where the April 2014 lunar eclipse is visible or not visible
The world map shows regions where the April 2014 lunar eclipse is visible or not visible. All eclipses belong to a family of eclipses. It applies to both lunar eclipses and solar eclipses. The name given to the family is the Saros Cycle. The Total Lunar Eclipse of 15 April 2015 belongs to Saros Cycle 122 and is number 56 of 75.
15 April 2014 Total Lunar Eclipse - World Map
showing regions from where the eclipse of the Moon is visible and not visible
Eclipse of the Moon - 15 April 2014 Lunar Eclipse visibility
An eclipse of the Moon is visible from the entire night side of Earth.
The whole duration of the eclipse is visible from most of the continent of North America, including a tiny corner of south-east Alaska, Central America,
and the continent of western South America.
More details appear below on regions from where the April 2014 Lunar Eclipse can be observed.
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE 15 April 2014 DIAGRAM DESCRIPTION
Saros Series 122 - member number 56 of 74
Moon’s position and trajectory through Earth’s umbra shadow
The diagarm below shows the position of the Moon as it passes through Earth’s Umbra shadow, it can be seen that the Moon’s northern hemisphere is deeper in Earth’s umbra shadow than the Moon’s southern hemisphere, resulting in the Moons northern hemisphere appearing darker than its southern hemisphere. The Moon will undergo a wide range of umbral depths during totality and its appearance will change considerably throughout the eclipse.
Details of Lunar Saros Series 122
Lunar eclipses of Saros 122 all occur at the Moon’s ascending node
Lunar eclipses of Saros 122 all occur at the Moon’s ascending node and the Moon moves southward with each eclipse. The Total Lunar eclipse of 15 April 2014 is the 56th eclipse of Saros Series 122. The series started with a penumbral eclipse near the northern edge of Earth’s penumbra on 14 August 1022 and the series will end with a penumbral eclipse near the southern edge of Earth’s penumbra on 29 October 2338. The total duration of Saros series 122 is 1316.20 years.
Fast Facts – Lunar Eclipse Visibility across the world– 15 April 2014
Entire Duration visible from most of;
continent of North America, (including a tiny corner of south-east Alaska), Central America, western continent of South America
Fast facts - Lunar Eclipse as Moon sets
Eastern continent of North America, Eastern continent of South America, Greenland, extreme western Europe.
Fast facts - Lunar Eclipse at Moon rise
western Pacific region, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Alaska
1st eclipse, Lunar Saros Series 122
14 August 1022
member number 1 of 74
Shortest Partial Lunar Eclipse of Series
Duration: 00h 25m 39s.
The 1st eclipse of Saros Series 122 was the shortest Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of the series, with the Moon's southern polar region just skimming through Earth's Penumbra shadow.
Saros Series 122
10 April 1419
member number 23 of 74
Shortest Partial Lunar Eclipse of Series
Duration: 00h 42m 58s
The 23rd eclipse of Saros Series 122 was the shortest Partial Lunar Eclipse in the series. The Moon is almost fully immersed in the penumbral shadow of Earth, with the south polar region of the Moon just skimming through the deeper shadow of Earth's umbra.
Below is a group of diagrams of Saros Series 122
These diagrams of Saros Series 122 give a visual understanding of how eclipses from the same Saros Series
move southward or northward through the centuries.
In Saros Series 122 the Moon first began north of Earth's penumbra in 1022
and will end south of Earth's penumbra in 2338
Saros Series 122, memeber number 1 of 74 begins north of Earth's umbral and penumbral shadow, and through the centures moves southward in each subsequent eclipse until memeber number 74 of 74 when it ends south of Earth's penumbral shadow 29 October 2338.
Saros Series with even numbers move southwards in each subsequent eclipse
Saros Series with even numbers move southwards in each subsequent eclipse, and Saros Series with odd numbers move northwards in each subsequent eclipse. A Saros Series does not last indefinitely, once the cycle is complete of 70 or more eclipses, the Saros Series ends. When a new Saros Series begins, it is given a new and unique number.
Saros Series 122
05 July 1563
member number 31 of 74
Shortest Total Lunar Eclipse of Series
Duration: 00h 23m 22s
The 31st eclipse of Saros Series 122 was the shortest Total Lunar Eclipse of the series. The Moon's trajectory took it just inside the umbra shadow of Earth. The southern hemishpere of the Moon would have appeared darker than the Moon's northern hemisphere.due to it being deeper in Earth's umbral shadow.
Saros 122
17 May 2068
member number 59 of 74
Longest Partial Lunar Eclipse of Series
Duration: 03h 18m 59s
The 59th eclipse of Saros Series 122 is the longest Partial Lunar Eclipse of the series. Most of the Moon passes through Earth's deeper umbral shadow, however the Moon's southern limb passes through the outer fainter shadow of Earth's penumbral shadow and the ellipse is therefore classified as a Partial Lunar Eclipse.
Saros series 122
11 October 1707
member number 39 of 74
Longest Total Lunar Eclipse of Series
Duration: 01h 40m 05s
The 39th eclipse of Saros Series 122 was the Longest Total Lunar Eclipse of the series. The Moon's trajectory took it central to the umbra shadow of Earth. The Moon would have been deep in Earth's shadow therefore showing the deepest shades of Red/Brown hues.
Saros Series 122
15 April 2014
member number 56 of 74
Total Lunar Eclipse
Totality Phase: 01 hour 17 minutes 48 seconds
The 56th eclipse of Saros 122 is a Total Lunar Eclipse and occurs at the Moon’s ascending node.
The Moon's trajectory passes through the southern half of Earth's umbral shadow. Saros Series 122 is now over half-way through its cycle of 74 eclipses.
Saros 122
02 August 2194
member number 66 of 74
Longest Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of series
Duration: 04h 29m 39s
The 66th eclipse of Saros Series 122 is the longest Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of the series.
Saros 122
29 October 2338
member number 74 of 74
Final Lunar Eclipse of series
The 74th eclipse of Saros Series 122 is a Penumbrall Lunar Eclipse and is the final eclipse of Saros Series 122.
15 April 2014 Total Lunar Eclipse - Technical details:
What is a Saros Cycle?
In Brief a Saros Cycle is:
Lunar and Solar eclipses occur in families (called a Saros Cycle) that link together eclipses that reoccur at intervals separated by approximately 18 years 11 days 8 hours (6,585.3 days). Eclipses within the same Saros Series share similar physical attributes. A Saros Series does not last indefinitely, they have a beginning and an end. Also the duration of a Saros Series Cycle is not constant, and the number of eclipses within each Saros Series is also not constant.
These families of a Saros Cycle typically last for 12 to 15 centuries (1,226 to 1,587 years) comprising of 70 to 89 eclipses in a saros series. Each saros series is designated a number.
Any two eclipses separated by one Saros Cycle from the same Saros Series have similar physical attributes; in that they share a similar geometry, occur at the same node and roughly the same time of year, and in each one, the Moon is approximately the same distance from Earth. Each eclipse in the same Saros Series reoccur at intervals separated by approximately 18 years 11 days 8 hours (6,585.3 days). The extra (8 hours) 1/3 day displacement means that Earth rotates an additional 8 hours or 120° with each cycle. For lunar eclipses this results in a shift of 120° west in the visibility zones of each succeeding eclipse. The Moon also drifts northwards or southwards through Earth’s umbra shadow in each subsequent eclipse.
Saros Series with odd-numbers the Moon shift northwards in each subsequent eclipse, and those with even-numbers the Moon is displaced southwards in each subsequent eclipse. A Saros Series returns to approximately the same geographic region every three Saros periods (54 years 34 days). This triple Saros cycle is known as the Exeligmos. A Saros Series does not last indefinitely due to the synodic, draconic, and anomalistic months which are not perfectly consistent with each other. Due to the regularity of eclipses separated by approximately 18 years 11 days, 8 hours (6,585.3 days).within a Saros Series; eclipses can be traced back to the past, or predicted far into the future.
The Saros Series on this page is an even number (122) and the Moon moves from north to south throrugh the umbra. To look at Saros Series with an odd number, in which the Moon moves from south to north, go to our page about the 2nd lunar eclipse of 2014. Luanr Eclipse October 2014
Sun at Greatest Eclipse
Geocentric Coordinates
R.A.: 01hour 33 minutes 40.0 seconds
Dec: +09° 46 ’27.6’’
S.D.: 00° 15’ 56.6’’
H.P, : 00° 00’ 08.8’’
Ecliptic Conjunction: 07:43:24.8 TD / 07:42:17:6 UT/GMT
Greatest Eclipse: 07:46:47:.0 TD / 07:45:39.8 UT/GMT
Predicted Penumbral Magnitude: 2.3183
Predicted Umbral Magnitude: 1.2907
Predicted Penumbral Radius: 1.2267°
Predicted Umbral Radius: 0.6952°
Gamma: 0.3017
Axis: 0.2863°
Saros Series 122: member number 56 of 74
Moon at Greatest Eclipse
Geocentric Coordinates
R.A.: 131hours 33 minutes 21.1 seconds
Dec: -10° 02 ’59.8’’
S.D.: 00° 15’ 30.9’’
H.P, : 00° 56’ 56.4’’
Astronomy abbreviation index:
TD = Terrestrial Dynamical Time
UT = Universail Time
GMT = Grennwich Meantime
R.A. = right ascention
Dec = Declination
S.D. = Apparent Semi-Diameter
H.P. = Horizontal Parallax
Saros Series Lunar 122 - First and Final Eclipse
First Eclipse; 14 August 1022; time; 14:51:42 TD
Last Eclipse 29 October 2338; time; 13:35:05 TD
Duration of Saros 122 = 1316.20 Years
Saros 122 consists of 74 lunar eclipses
Eclipse Type SymbolNumberPercent
All Eclipses; 74 100.0%
Penumbral N 31 41.9%
Partial P 15 20.3%
Total T 28 37.8%
The 74 lunar eclipses in Saros 122 occur in the following order:
22N 8P 28T 7P 9N
or:
22 Penumbral; 8 Partial; 28 Total; 7 Partial; and 9 Penumbral
Saros Series 122 Longest and Shortest Eclipses
Longest Total Lunar Eclipse: 11 October 1707 Duration: 01h 40m 05s
Shortest Total Lunar Eclipse: 05 July 1563 Duration: 00h 23m 22s
Longest Partial Lunar Eclipse: 17 May 2068 Duration: 03h 18m 59s
Shortest Partial Lunar Eclipse: 10 April 1419 Duration: 00h 42m 58s
Longest Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 02 August 2194 Duration: 04h 29m 39s
Shortest Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: 14 August 1022 Duration: 00h 25m 39s
Largest and smallest magnitude partial eclipses of Saros 122
Largest Partial Lunar Eclipse: 17 May 2068 Magnitude: 0.9532
Smallest Partial Lunar Eclipse: 10 April 1419 Magnitude: 0.0393
click any image to enlarge. All 8 images; credit: Five Millennium Canon of Lunar Eclipses (Espenak and Meeus) NASA/GSFC.