May 1975 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse took place on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 1975, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 1975. The Moon was plunged into darkness for 1 hour and 28 minutes in a deep total eclipse which saw the Moon 43% of its diameter inside the Earth's umbral shadow. The visual effect of an eclipse depends on the state of the Earth's atmosphere, but the Moon may have been stained a deep red colour. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours and 35 minutes in total. Occurring only 4.4 days after perigee (Perigee on May 20, 1975), the Moon's apparent diameter was 0.7% larger than average. The moon was 377,010 km (234,263 mi) from the Earth at greatest eclipse.

May 1975 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
Date25 May 1975
Gamma0.23674
Magnitude1.42533
Saros cycle130 (32 of 72)
Totality88 minutes, 17.9 seconds
Partiality215 minutes, 13.2 seconds
Penumbral336 minutes, 0.7 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P103:00:03.3
U104:00:23.0
U205:03:51.1
Greatest05:48:00.9
U306:32:09.0
U407:35:36.2
P408:36:04.0

The eclipse was a dark one with the southern tip of the moon passing through the center of the Earth's shadow. This was the first central eclipse of Saros series 130.

Visibility

It was completely visible over North and South America, seen rising over Australia on the evening of Sunday 25 May 1975, and setting over Africa, and Western Europe on the morning of Sunday 25 May 1975.

Eclipses in 1975

Lunar year series
Lunar eclipse series sets from 1973–1976
Ascending node   Descending node
Saros Date
Viewing		 Type
Chart		 Gamma Saros Date
Viewing		 Type
Chart		 Gamma
110 1973 Jun 15
 Penumbral
 −1.32166 115 1973 Dec 10
 Partial
 0.96441
120 1974 Jun 04
 Partial
 −0.54887 125 1974 Nov 29
 Total
 0.30540
130 1975 May 25
 Total
 0.23674 135 1975 Nov 18
 Total
 −0.41343
140 1976 May 13
 Partial
 0.95860 145 1976 Nov 06
 Penumbral
 −1.12760
Last set 1973 Jul 15 Last set 1973 Jan 18
Next set 1977 Apr 04 Next set 1977 Sep 27

Saros series

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.[1]		 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).[2] This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 137.

May 20, 1966 May 30, 1984

See also

References
  1. Listing of Eclipses of cycle 130
  2. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros


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