October 1966 lunar eclipse

A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on Saturday, October 29, 1966, the second of two penumbral lunar eclipses in 1966, the first being on May 4, 1966. At maximum eclipse, 95.172% of the Moon's disc was partially shaded by the Earth, which caused a slight shadow gradient across its disc; this subtle effect may have been visible to careful observers. No part of the Moon was in complete shadow. The eclipse lasted 4 hours, 33 minutes and 46.2 seconds overall. Occurring only 4 days after apogee (Apogee on Tuesday, October 25, 1966), the Moon's apparent diameter was 4.9% smaller than average.

October 1966 lunar eclipse
Penumbral eclipse
Date29 October 1966
Gamma-1.05999
Magnitude0.95172
Saros cycle116 (55 of 73)
Penumbral273 minutes, 46.2 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P107:55:26.0
Greatest10:12:17.0
P412:29:12.2

This was a deep penumbral eclipse, with over 90% within Penumbral Shadow.[1]

Visibility

It was completely visible over eastern Asia, Australia, Pacific and the Americas, seen rising over eastern Asia and Australia and setting over the Americas.

Lunar year series
Lunar eclipse series sets from 1966–1969
Descending node   Ascending node
Saros Date
Viewing		 Type
Chart		 Gamma Saros Date
Viewing		 Type
Chart		 Gamma
111 1966 May 04
 Penumbral
 1.05536 116 1966 Oct 29
 Penumbral
 -1.05999
121 1967 Apr 24
 Total
 0.29722 126 1967 Oct 18
 Total
 -0.36529
131 1968 Apr 13
 Total
 -0.41732 136 1968 Oct 06
 Total
 0.36054
141 1969 Apr 02
 Penumbral
 -1.17648 146 1969 Sep 25
 Penumbral
 1.06558
Last set 1965 Jun 14 Last set 1965 Dec 08
Next set 1970 Feb 21 Next set 1969 Aug 27

Metonic series

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 events: May 4 and October 28
Descending node Ascending node
  1. 1966 May 4 - Penumbral (111)
  2. 1985 May 4 - Total (121)
  3. 2004 May 4 - Total (131)
  4. 2023 May 5 - Penumbral (141)
  1. 1966 Oct 29 - Penumbral (116)
  2. 1985 Oct 28 - Total (126)
  3. 2004 Oct 28 - Total (136)
  4. 2023 Oct 28 - Partial (146)
  5. 2042 Oct 28 - Penumbral (156)

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 solar eclipses of Solar Saros 123.

October 23, 1957 November 3, 1975

See also

Notes
  1. Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 116
  2. Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros


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