May 1957 lunar eclipse

May 1957 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
The Moon's hourly motion shown right to left
DateMay 13, 1957
Gamma0.3046
Magnitude1.2982
Saros cycle130 (31 of 72)
Totality77 minutes, 39 seconds
Partiality211 minutes, 36 seconds
Penumbral334 minutes, 57 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P119:43:30
U120:45:06
U221:52:05
Greatest22:30:56
U323:09:44
U40:16:42
P41:18:27

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Monday, May 13, 1957,[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.2982. 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. Occurring about 3.25 days after perigee (on May 9, 1957, at 4:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.[2]

This lunar eclipse was the third of an almost tetrad, with the others being on May 24, 1956 (partial); November 18, 1956 (total); and November 7, 1957 (total).

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Antarctica, seen rising over eastern North America and South America and setting over much of Asia and Australia.[3]

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.[4]

May 13, 1957 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
Parameter Value
Penumbral Magnitude 2.30005
Umbral Magnitude 1.29822
Gamma 0.30457
Sun Right Ascension 03h21m53.2s
Sun Declination +18°29'35.8"
Sun Semi-Diameter 15'49.4"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 08.7"
Moon Right Ascension 15h22m04.8s
Moon Declination -18°12'09.6"
Moon Semi-Diameter 15'47.7"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax 0°57'58.1"
ΔT 32.0 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 1957
April 30
Descending node (new moon)
May 13
Ascending node (full moon)
Annular solar eclipse
Solar Saros 118
Total lunar eclipse
Lunar Saros 130

Eclipses in 1957

Metonic

Tzolkinex

Half-Saros

Tritos

Lunar Saros 130

Inex

Triad

Lunar eclipses of 1955–1958

Lunar eclipse series sets from 1955–1958
Ascending node   Descending node
Saros Date
viewing
Type
chart
Saros Date
viewing
Type
chart
110 1955 Jun 5
Penumbral
115 1955 Nov 29
Partial
120 1956 May 24
Partial
125 1956 Nov 18
Total
130 1957 May 13
Total
135 1957 Nov 7
Total
140 1958 May 3
Partial
145 1958 Oct 27
Penumbral
Last set 1954 Jul 16 Last set 1955 Jan 8
Next set 1958 Apr 4 Next set 1959 Sep 17

Saros 130

Lunar saros series 130, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 71 lunar eclipse events including 56 umbral lunar eclipses (42 partial lunar eclipses and 14 total lunar eclipses). Solar Saros 137 interleaves with this lunar saros with an event occurring every 9 years 5 days alternating between each saros series.

Greatest First

The greatest eclipse of the series will occur on 2029 Jun 26, lasting 102 minutes.[5]
Penumbral Partial Total Central
1416 Jun 10 1560 Sep 4 1921 Apr 22
1957 May 13
Last
Central Total Partial Penumbral
2083 Jul 29
2155 Sep 11 2552 May 10 2678 Jul 26
1901–2200
1903 Apr 12 1921 Apr 22 1939 May 3
1957 May 13 1975 May 25 1993 Jun 4
2011 Jun 15 2029 Jun 26 2047 Jul 7
2065 Jul 17 2083 Jul 29

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[6] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 137.

May 9, 1948 May 20, 1966

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "May 13–14, 1957 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)". timeanddate. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England". timeanddate. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  3. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1957 May 13" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Total Lunar Eclipse of 1957 May 13". EclipseWise.com. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
  5. ^ Listing of Eclipses of cycle 130
  6. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros