December 2011 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse took place on December 10, 2011. It was the second of two total lunar eclipses in 2011, the first having occurred on June 15. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is positioned just right in its orbit to pass through Earth's shadow.

December 2011 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Singapore, 14:41 UTC
Date10 December 2011
Gamma-0.3882
Magnitude1.1061
Saros cycle135 (23 of 71)
Totality51 minutes, 8 seconds
Partiality212 minutes, 17 seconds
Penumbral356 minutes, 28 seconds

Visibility
NASA chart of the eclipse

Asia, Australia, and other areas of the Pacific had the best visibility. European countries only saw a partial eclipse of a rising moon, while northwestern North America saw a partial eclipse of a setting moon.

The eclipse was seen over the Philippines despite cloudy and rainy weather over parts of Luzon and other areas. Photos were taken by groups of amateur astronomers from the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP).

South America and portions of West Africa missed the eclipse completely as it happened in the early morning.

Asia

  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Tokyo, Japan
    Wide view with Orion
  • Beijing, China
  • Laguna, Philippines, 13:49 UTC
  • Bangkok, Thailand, 12:46-13:57 UTC
  • Singapore, 14:10 UTC
  • Shanghai, China, 14:29 UTC
  • Lam Tin, Hong Kong, 14:47 UTC
  • Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, 15:07 UTC
  • Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • New Delhi, India
  • Mumbai, India
  • Japan

Australia and Oceania

Sequence from 20:12 Dec 11 until 00:19 Dec 12 (AWST, UTC +8) Serpentine Dam, Western Australia view right to left as the moon passed across the sky

Europe and Middle East

North America

Contact timing by location

Times for Australia

The eclipse occurred on Saturday evening in Australia. Eastern Daylight Saving Time: (+11:00 UTC)

  • Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 22:33:32 EDST
  • Partial Eclipse Begins: 23:45:42 EDST
  • Total Eclipse Begins: 01:06:16 EDST
  • Greatest Eclipse: 01:31:49 EDST
  • Total Eclipse Ends: 01:57:24 EDST
  • Partial Eclipse Ends: 03:17:58 EDST
  • Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 04:30:00 EDST

Times for India

The eclipse was visible from India in the evening, given in India Standard Time (UTC+5:30):

  • Penumbral eclipse begins (P1): 17:04 IST
  • Partial eclipse begins (U1): 18:16 IST
  • Total eclipse begins (U2): 19:36 IST
  • Mid-eclipse: 20:02 IST
  • Total eclipse ends (U3): 20:27 IST
  • Partial eclipse ends (U4): 21:48 IST
  • Penumbral eclipse ends (P4): 23:00 IST

Times for North America

The eclipse was visible on Saturday morning before sunrise over North America. For most location the moon set before full lunar eclipse. Only Alaska and northern most Canada will be able to witness the entire event.

Contact North America UTC
AST
(UTC−9)		PST
(UTC−8)		MST
(UTC−7)		CST
(UTC−6)		EST
(UTC−5)
Penumbral begins (P1) 2:34 am3:34 am4:34 am5:34 am6:34 am11:34
Partial begins (U1) 3:46 am4:46 am5:46 am6:46 am 7:46 am 12:46
Totality begins (U2) 5:06 am6:06 am7:06 am 8:06 am 9:06 am 14:06
Mid-eclipse 5:32 am6:32 am7:32 am 8:32 am 9:32 am 14:32
Totality ends (U3) 5:57 am6:57 am 7:57 am 8:57 am 9:57 am 14:57
Partial ends (U4) 7:18 am 8:18 am 9:18 am 10:18 am 11:18 am 16:18
Penumbral ends (P4) 8:30 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 11:30 am 12:30 pm 17:30
(Table entries are given a dark background for invisibility due to moonset)

Eclipses of 2011

It was preceded by the partial solar eclipse of November 25, 2011.

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[1] This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 142.

December 4, 2002 December 14, 2020

Lunar year (354 days)

This eclipse is the one of four lunar eclipses in a short-lived series. The lunar year series repeats after 12 lunations or 354 days (shifting back about 10 days in sequential years). Because of the date shift, the Earth's shadow will be about 11 degrees west in sequential events.

See also

References
  1. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros

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