April 2015 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Saturday, April 4, 2015,^[1] with an umbral magnitude of 1.0019. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's shadow is smaller. Occurring about 3.1 days after apogee (on April 1, 2015, at 9:00 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.^[2]

April 2015 lunar eclipse

Total eclipse
Totality as viewed from Los Angeles, California, 12:00 UTC
Date	April 4, 2015
Gamma	0.4460
Magnitude	1.0019
Saros cycle	132 (30 of 71)
Totality	4 minutes, 43 seconds
Partiality	209 minutes, 1 second
Penumbral	357 minutes, 31 seconds
Contacts (UTC) P1 09:01:27 U1 10:15:45 U2 11:57:54 Greatest 12:00:15 U3 12:02:37 U4 13:44:46 P4 14:58:58
← October 2014 September 2015 →

This lunar eclipse is the third of a tetrad, with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on April 15, 2014; October 8, 2014; and September 28, 2015.

This is the 30th member of Lunar Saros 132, and the first total eclipse of the series. The previous event was the March 1997 lunar eclipse, being slightly partial.

It occurred on Easter Sunday (Gregorian only).^[3]: 152

Duration

Totality lasted only 4 minutes and 43 seconds,^[4] making it the shortest lunar totality in almost five centuries since October 17, 1529 (which lasted 1 minute and 42 seconds). It was claimed by some that due to the oblateness of the Earth, it may have actually just been a partial eclipse.^[5] It was the sixth total lunar eclipse out of nine with totality under 5 minutes in a five millennium period between 2,000 BC and 3,000 AD. The eclipsed moon was 12.9% smaller in apparent diameter than the supermoon September 2015 lunar eclipse, measured as 29.66' and 33.47' in diameter from the center of the Earth. It occurred 3 days past apogee at 29.42'.

Background

Main article: Lunar eclipse

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes within Earth's umbra (shadow). As the eclipse begins, Earth's shadow first darkens the Moon slightly. Then, the shadow begins to "cover" part of the Moon, turning it a dark red-brown color (typically - the color can vary based on atmospheric conditions). The Moon appears to be reddish because of Rayleigh scattering (the same effect that causes sunsets to appear reddish) and the refraction of that light by Earth's atmosphere into its umbra.^[6]

The following simulation shows the approximate appearance of the Moon passing through Earth's shadow. The Moon's brightness is exaggerated within the umbral shadow. The southern portion of the Moon will be closest to the center of the shadow, making it darkest, and most red in appearance.

Visibility

The eclipse was completely visible over northeast Asia, eastern Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and western North America, seen rising over Asia and western Australia and setting over North and South America.^[7]

Visibility map

Timing

Local times of contacts

Time Zone adjustments from UTC		+8h	+11h	+13h	-10h	-8h	-7h	-6h	-5h	-4h
		AWST	AEDT	NZDT	HST	AKDT	PDT	MDT	CDT	EDT
Event		Evening April 4			Morning April 4
P1	Penumbral begins	N/A†	8:01 pm	10:01 pm	11:01 pm	1:01 am	2:01 am	3:01 am	4:01 am	5:01 am
U1	Partial begins	6:16 pm	9:16 pm	11:16 pm	12:16 am	2:16 am	3:16 am	4:16 am	5:16 am	6:16 am
U2	Total begins	7:58 pm	10:58 pm	12:58 am	1:58 am	3:58 am	4:58 am	5:58 am	6:58 am	Set
	Greatest eclipse	8:00 pm	11:00 pm	1:00 am	2:00 am	4:00 am	5:00 am	6:00 am	7:00 am	Set
U3	Total ends	8:03 pm	11:03 pm	1:03 am	2:03 am	4:03 am	5:03 am	6:03 am	Set	Set
U4	Partial ends	9:45 pm	12:45 am	2:45 am	3:45 am	5:45 am	Set	Set	Set	Set
P4	Penumbral ends	10:59 pm	1:59 am	3:59 am	3:59 am	5:59 am	Set	Set	Set	Set

† The Moon was not visible during this part of the eclipse in this time zone.

Contact points relative to the Earth's umbral and penumbral shadows, here with the Moon near its descending node.

v t e The timing of total lunar eclipses are determined by its contacts:[8] P1 (First contact): Beginning of the penumbral eclipse. Earth's penumbra touches the Moon's outer limb. U1 (Second contact): Beginning of the partial eclipse. Earth's umbra touches the Moon's outer limb. U2 (Third contact): Beginning of the total eclipse. The Moon's surface is entirely within Earth's umbra. Greatest eclipse: The peak stage of the total eclipse. The Moon is at its closest to the center of Earth's umbra. U3 (Fourth contact): End of the total eclipse. The Moon's outer limb exits Earth's umbra. U4 (Fifth contact): End of the partial eclipse. Earth's umbra leaves the Moon's surface. P4 (Sixth contact): End of the penumbral eclipse. Earth's penumbra no longer makes contact with the Moon.

Gallery

Progression from Bali, Indonesia
Time-lapsed image from Taiwan	Sequence from Fox Observatory in Sunrise, Florida
Sequence from Melbourne, Florida	Progression from St. Louis, Missouri

• 
  Toronto, Canada, 9:54 UTC
• 
  Auckland, New Zealand, 9:54 UTC
• 
  Macon, Georgia, 10:54 UTC
• 
  Mexico City, Mexico, 10:59 UTC
• 
  Minneapolis, Minnesota, 11:09 UTC
• 
  Chicago, Illinois, 11:36 UTC
• 
  Melbourne, Australia, 11:46 UTC
• 
  Denver, Colorado, 11:50 UTC
• 
  Tai Po, Hong Kong, 12:01 UTC
• 
  Santa Clara County, California, 12:02 UTC
• 
  Las Vegas, Nevada, 12:03 UTC
• 
  Rio Rancho, New Mexico, 12:13 UTC
• 
  Bangkok, Thailand, 12:37 UTC
• 
  Hirosaki, Aomori, 12:56 UTC
• 
  Pune, India, 13:38 UTC

Eclipse details

Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.^[9]

April 4, 2015 Lunar Eclipse Parameters

Parameter	Value
Penumbral Magnitude	2.08024
Umbral Magnitude	1.00191
Gamma	0.44599
Sun Right Ascension	00h53m01.2s
Sun Declination	+05°40'32.8"
Sun Semi-Diameter	15'59.6"
Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax	08.8"
Moon Right Ascension	12h53m29.7s
Moon Declination	-05°17'20.2"
Moon Semi-Diameter	14'49.9"
Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax	0°54'25.9"
ΔT	67.7 s

Eclipse season

See also: Eclipse cycle

This eclipse is part of an eclipse season, a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a fortnight.

Eclipse season of March–April 2015

March 20 Descending node (new moon)	April 4 Ascending node (full moon)
Total solar eclipse Solar Saros 120	Total lunar eclipse Lunar Saros 132

Related eclipses

Eclipses in 2015

• A total solar eclipse on March 20.
• A total lunar eclipse on April 4.
• A partial solar eclipse on September 13.
• A total lunar eclipse on September 28.

Metonic

• Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 15, 2011
• Followed by: Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2019

Tzolkinex

• Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of February 21, 2008
• Followed by: Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2022

Half-Saros

• Preceded by: Solar eclipse of March 29, 2006
• Followed by: Solar eclipse of April 8, 2024

Tritos

• Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of May 4, 2004
• Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2026

Lunar Saros 132

• Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1997
• Followed by: Lunar eclipse of April 14, 2033

Inex

• Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1986
• Followed by: Lunar eclipse of March 13, 2044

Triad

• Preceded by: Lunar eclipse of June 3, 1928
• Followed by: Lunar eclipse of February 3, 2102

Lunar eclipses of 2013–2016

This eclipse is a member of a semester series. An eclipse in a semester series of lunar eclipses repeats approximately every 177 days and 4 hours (a semester) at alternating nodes of the Moon's orbit.^[10]

The penumbral lunar eclipse on May 25, 2013 occurs in the previous lunar year eclipse set, and the penumbral lunar eclipse on August 18, 2016 occurs in the next lunar year eclipse set.

Lunar eclipse series sets from 2013 to 2016
Ascending node					Descending node
Saros	Date Viewing	Type Chart	Gamma		Saros	Date Viewing	Type Chart	Gamma
112	2013 Apr 25	Partial	−1.0121		117	2013 Oct 18	Penumbral	1.1508
122	2014 Apr 15	Total	−0.3017		127	2014 Oct 08	Total	0.3827
132	2015 Apr 04	Total	0.4460		137	2015 Sep 28	Total	−0.3296
142	2016 Mar 23	Penumbral	1.1592		147	2016 Sep 16	Penumbral	−1.0549

Saros 132

This eclipse is a part of Saros series 132, repeating every 18 years, 11 days, and containing 71 events. The series started with a penumbral lunar eclipse on May 12, 1492. It contains partial eclipses from August 16, 1636 through March 24, 1997; total eclipses from April 4, 2015 through August 2, 2213; and a second set of partial eclipses from August 13, 2231 through November 30, 2411. The series ends at member 71 as a penumbral eclipse on June 26, 2754.

The longest duration of totality will be produced by member 36 at 106 minutes, 6 seconds on June 9, 2123. All eclipses in this series occur at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit.^[11]

Greatest	First
The greatest eclipse of the series will occur on 2123 Jun 09, lasting 106 minutes, 6 seconds.[12]	Penumbral	Partial	Total	Central
	1492 May 12	1636 Aug 16	2015 Apr 04	2069 May 06
	Last
	Central	Total	Partial	Penumbral
	2177 Jul 11	2213 Aug 02	2411 Nov 30	2754 Jun 26

Eclipses are tabulated in three columns; every third eclipse in the same column is one exeligmos apart, so they all cast shadows over approximately the same parts of the Earth.

Series members 19–40 occur between 1801 and 2200:
19		20		21
1816 Dec 04		1834 Dec 16		1852 Dec 26
22		23		24
1871 Jan 06		1889 Jan 17		1907 Jan 29
25		26		27
1925 Feb 08		1943 Feb 20		1961 Mar 02
28		29		30
1979 Mar 13		1997 Mar 24		2015 Apr 04
31		32		33
2033 Apr 14		2051 Apr 26		2069 May 06
34		35		36
2087 May 17		2105 May 28		2123 Jun 09
37		38		39
2141 Jun 19		2159 Jun 30		2177 Jul 11
40
2195 Jul 22

Tritos series

This eclipse is a part of a tritos cycle, repeating at alternating nodes every 135 synodic months (≈ 3986.63 days, or 11 years minus 1 month). Their appearance and longitude are irregular due to a lack of synchronization with the anomalistic month (period of perigee), but groupings of 3 tritos cycles (≈ 33 years minus 3 months) come close (≈ 434.044 anomalistic months), so eclipses are similar in these groupings.

Series members between 1801 and 2200
1807 Nov 15 (Saros 113)		1818 Oct 14 (Saros 114)		1829 Sep 13 (Saros 115)		1840 Aug 13 (Saros 116)		1851 Jul 13 (Saros 117)
1862 Jun 12 (Saros 118)		1873 May 12 (Saros 119)		1884 Apr 10 (Saros 120)		1895 Mar 11 (Saros 121)		1906 Feb 09 (Saros 122)
1917 Jan 08 (Saros 123)		1927 Dec 08 (Saros 124)		1938 Nov 07 (Saros 125)		1949 Oct 07 (Saros 126)		1960 Sep 05 (Saros 127)
1971 Aug 06 (Saros 128)		1982 Jul 06 (Saros 129)		1993 Jun 04 (Saros 130)		2004 May 04 (Saros 131)		2015 Apr 04 (Saros 132)
2026 Mar 03 (Saros 133)		2037 Jan 31 (Saros 134)		2048 Jan 01 (Saros 135)		2058 Nov 30 (Saros 136)		2069 Oct 30 (Saros 137)
2080 Sep 29 (Saros 138)		2091 Aug 29 (Saros 139)		2102 Jul 30 (Saros 140)		2113 Jun 29 (Saros 141)		2124 May 28 (Saros 142)
2135 Apr 28 (Saros 143)		2146 Mar 28 (Saros 144)		2157 Feb 24 (Saros 145)		2168 Jan 24 (Saros 146)		2178 Dec 24 (Saros 147)
2189 Nov 22 (Saros 148)		2200 Oct 23 (Saros 149)

Inex series

This eclipse is a part of the long period inex cycle, repeating at alternating nodes, every 358 synodic months (≈ 10,571.95 days, or 29 years minus 20 days). Their appearance and longitude are irregular due to a lack of synchronization with the anomalistic month (period of perigee). However, groupings of 3 inex cycles (≈ 87 years minus 2 months) comes close (≈ 1,151.02 anomalistic months), so eclipses are similar in these groupings.

Series members between 1801 and 2200
1812 Aug 22 (Saros 125)		1841 Aug 02 (Saros 126)		1870 Jul 12 (Saros 127)
1899 Jun 23 (Saros 128)		1928 Jun 03 (Saros 129)		1957 May 13 (Saros 130)
1986 Apr 24 (Saros 131)		2015 Apr 04 (Saros 132)		2044 Mar 13 (Saros 133)
2073 Feb 22 (Saros 134)		2102 Feb 03 (Saros 135)		2131 Jan 13 (Saros 136)
2159 Dec 24 (Saros 137)		2188 Dec 04 (Saros 138)

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros).^[13] This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of solar saros 139.

March 29, 2006	April 8, 2024

See also

• List of lunar eclipses and List of 21st-century lunar eclipses