An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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The → darkening of the → Moon which occurs when the Moon enters the → umbra of the → Earth's shadow. This phenomenon can occur only when the → full Moon is near one of the → lunar nodes of its → orbit around the Earth. There will be a → total eclipse if the entire Moon enters the umbra, otherwise the eclipse will be partial when the Moon is somewhat to the north or south of the node and does not cross the shadow entirely. During the eclipse the Moon looks more or less dark, depending especially on the transparency of the Earth's → atmosphere. The → refraction of Sun's light through the atmosphere sometimes gives a red color to the eclipsed Moon. Colored fringes can be seen around the shadow edge during → partial eclipses. Because an eclipse of the Moon is due to the cutting off of the Sun's light, it is visible from the entire hemisphere where the Moon is above the horizon. The maximum duration of a total lunar eclipse, when the Moon passes through the shadow centrally, is 1h 47m (M.S.: SDE).

→ lunar; → eclipse.

A → lunar eclipse when the Earth's → umbra passes over only part of the Moon, causing only moderate darkening of the full Moon. See also → penumbral lunar eclipse.

→ partial; → lunar; → eclipse.

A lunar eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's → penumbra, but misses the darker umbral shadow. Because the Moon is only partially dimmed, a penumbral eclipse is not impressive. Total penumbral eclipses are rare, and when these occur, that portion of the Moon which is closest to the umbra can appear somewhat darker than the rest of the Moon.

→ penumbral; → eclipse.

A → lunar eclipse when the entire → Moon passes through the Earth's → umbra. The maximum duration of a total lunar eclipse is 1h 47m. It happens when the Moon crosses the umbra at its → apogee, where it moves the most slowly, and the Earth is at its → aphelion. The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting 1h 42m 59s, occurred on the night of 27 to 28 July 2018 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand). See also → tetrad.

→ total; → lunar; → eclipse.