February 2008 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurred on the evening of Wednesday, February 20, and morning of Thursday, February 21, 2008. It was visible in the eastern evening sky on February 20 for all of North and South America, and on February 21 in the predawn western sky from most of Africa and Europe. Greatest Eclipse occurring on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 03:26:03 UTC, totality lasting 49 minutes and 45.6 seconds.

February 2008 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Telescopic view, from North Billerica, Massachusetts at 3:25 UT, near greatest eclipse.
Date21 February 2008
Gamma-0.39923
Magnitude1.10618
Saros cycle133 (26 of 71)
Totality49 minutes, 46 seconds
Partiality205 minutes, 28 seconds
Penumbral339 minutes, 3 seconds

Occurring 7.1 days after perigee (Perigee on February 14, 2008) and 6.9 days before apogee (Apogee on February 28, 2008), the Moon's apparent diameter was near the average diameter.

The total lunar eclipse was the first of the two lunar eclipses in 2008, with the second, the August 16, 2008 event being partial.[1] The next total lunar eclipse occurred on December 21, 2010. The tables below contain detailed predictions and additional information on the Total Lunar Eclipse of 21 February 2008.

The moon's apparent diameter was 26.2 arcseconds larger than the August 16, 2008 partial lunar eclipse.

Viewing
NASA chart of the eclipse

The eclipse was visible in the eastern evening sky on February 20 for all of North and South America, and on February 21 in the predawn western sky from most of Africa and Europe.


These simulated views of the earth from the center of the moon during the lunar eclipse show where the eclipse is visible on earth.

The penumbral eclipse began at 00:35 UTC (February 21), and ended at 6:17. A partial eclipse existed from 1:43 until 3:00, followed by 51 minutes of totality (3:00 - 3:51), and then partial again from 3:51 until 5:09. (For local times, see Timing.)

It is possible to mistake the appearance of partial eclipse as the moon being in a different phase, but the shadow from the eclipse changes much more rapidly.[2]

The bright star Regulus of Leo and the planet Saturn were prominent very near the moon during the total eclipse portion. Shortly before the eclipse began, Regulus was occulted by the moon in parts of the far Southern Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica.

Map

Relation to other lunar eclipses

Eclipses of 2008

Lunar year series

Saros series

This lunar eclipse is part of series 133 of the Saros cycle, which repeats every 18 years and 11 days. Series 133 runs from the year 1557 until 2819. The previous eclipse of this series occurred on February 9, 1990 and the next will occur on March 3, 2026.

It is the 6th of 21 total lunar eclipses in series 133. The first was on December 28, 1917. The last (21st) will be on August 3, 2278. The longest two occurrences of this series (14th and 15th) will last for a total of 1 hour and 42 minutes on May 18, 2152 and May 30, 2170. Solar saros 140 interleaves with this lunar saros with an event occurring every 9 years 5 days alternating between each saros series.

Metonic cycle (19 years)

This is the fourth of five Metonic lunar eclipses.

The Metonic cycle repeats nearly exactly every 19 years and represents a Saros cycle plus one lunar year. Because it occurs on the same calendar date, the earth's shadow will in nearly the same location relative to the background stars.

Metonic lunar eclipse sets 1951–2027
Descending node   Ascending node
Saros Date Type Saros Date Type
103 1951 Feb 21.88 Penumbral 108 1951 Aug 17.13 Penumbral
113 1970 Feb 21.35 Partial 118 1970 Aug 17.14 Partial
123 1989 Feb 20.64 Total 128 1989 Aug 17.13 Total
133 2008 Feb 21.14 Total 138 2008 Aug 16.88 Partial
143 2027 Feb 20.96 Penumbral 148 2027 Aug 17.30 Penumbral

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).[3] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 140.

February 16, 1999 February 26, 2017

Timing

The moon entered the penumbral shadow at 0:36 UTC, and the umbral shadow at 1:43. Totality lasted for 50 minutes, between 3:01 and 3:51. The moon left the umbra shadow at 5:09 and left the penumbra shadow at 6:16.[4]

Total Lunar Eclipse[5]
Event North and South America Europe and Africa
Evening of February 20th Morning of February 21st
AKST
(-9h)		 PST
(-8h)		 MST
(-7h)		 CST
(-6h)		 EST
(-5h)		 AST
(-4h)		 GMT
(0h)		 CET
(+1h)		 EET
(+2h)
P1 Penumbral began Under Horizon Under Horizon Under Horizon 18:36 19:36 20:36 0:36 1:36 2:36
U1 Partial began Under Horizon Under Horizon 18:43 19:43 20:43 21:43 1:43 2:43 3:43
U2 Total began Under Horizon 19:01 20:01 21:01 22:01 23:01 3:01 4:01 5:01
Mid-eclipse 18:26 19:26 20:26 21:26 22:26 23:26 3:26 4:26 5:26
U3 Total ended 18:51 19:51 20:51 21:51 22:51 23:51 3:51 4:51 Set
U4 Partial ended 20:09 21:09 22:09 23:09 0:09 1:09 5:09 Set Set

Composites

Eclipse observed from Sandim, Portugal. 41°02′22″N 8°30′50″W.
Eclipse observed from Regina, Saskatchewan. Each image is roughly taken 5 minutes apart.

Images taken in 3-5 minute Intervals - from Bradley, Illinois.
Eclipse observed from Halton Hills, Ontario. From 01:47 to 03:15 UTC, each image is roughly taken 5min apart.

Eclipse observed from Winnipeg, Manitoba

Lunar eclipse observed from Burlington, Ontario

Observed from Baltimore, Maryland from 2:30 to 3:01 UTC. Lunar north is near left.

North America

Canada
  • Eclipse Observed from Burlington, Ontario at 2:00 UTC.
  • Eclipse observed from Victoria, British Columbia at 2:49 UTC. Lunar north is near top-left.
  • Eclipse observed from Victoria, British Columbia at 2:56 UTC, just prior to total. Lunar north is near top-left.
  • Eclipse observed from Salmon Arm, Canada at 3:11 UTC. Lunar north is near top-left.
  • Eclipse observed from Burlington, Ontario at 4:05 UTC.

USA (west)

USA (east)

South America

Europe and Africa
  • Eclipse observed from Rostock, Germany at 1:50 UTC. Lunar north is near top.
  • Eclipse observed from Sasolburg, South Africa - around 2:55 UTC. Lunar north is right.
  • Eclipse observed from Prague, Czech Republic at 3:41 UTC

See also

Notes
  1. sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov
  2. http://www.spaceweather.com/eclipses/20feb08e/John-Doukoumopoulos2.jpg
  3. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
  4. "Total lunar eclipse of 2008 Feb 21" (PDF). NASA. 2008-02-21. Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC
  5. "NASA - Total Lunar Eclipse: February 20, 2008". 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
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