Sunday, July 5, Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 149

Summary: The Sunday, July 5, penumbral lunar eclipse belongs to Saros cycle 149, a series of 71 similar lunar eclipses.

Penumbral lunar eclipse of Wednesday, June 13, 1984, opened Saros 149’s lineup of 71 lunar eclipses: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

The Sunday, July 5, penumbral lunar eclipse belongs to Saros series 111, a family of 71 lunar eclipses with similar geometries.

July’s penumbral lunar eclipse begins Sunday, July 5, at 03:07:23 Universal Time (Saturday, July 4, at 11:07 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time), according to NASA’s Eclipse Web Site. Greatest eclipse, which references the instant of the moon’s closest passage to the axis of Earth’s shadow, happens Sunday at 04:30:00.1 UT (12:30 a.m. EDT). The eclipse ends at 05:52:23 UT (1:52 a.m. EDT).

July’s penumbral lunar eclipse appears as number three in the lineup of 71 lunar eclipses in Saros series 149. Similar geometries unite the 71 lunar eclipses as a family, known as a series.

Saros 149 lunar eclipses have shared occurrences at the moon’s descending node. With each subsequent eclipse, the lunar movement in Saros series 149 is northward with respect to the descending node.

A pair of nodes signal the intersections of Earth’s orbit with the lunar orbit. The two nodes express the approximately 5.1 degree tilt of the lunar orbit with respect to Earth’s orbit. The descending node concerns the moon’s orbital crossing to the south of Earth’s orbit. The ascending node marks the lunar orbital crossing to the north of Earth’s orbit.

The Saros cycle, which equates to approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours), determines the periodicity and recurrence of eclipses. A Saros series comprises 70 or more lunar eclipses, with a Saros cycle elapsing between each eclipse. A Saros series typically lasts for 12 to 15 centuries.

Saros series 149 endures for 1,262.11 years. Saros series 149 unfolds over 14 centuries, beginning in the 20th century and ending in the 33rd century.

The 71 lunar eclipses in Saros series 149 sequence as seven penumbral lunar eclipses, 21 partial lunar eclipses, 15 total lunar eclipses, 21 partial lunar eclipses and seven penumbral lunar eclipses. Partial lunar eclipses appear with the greatest frequency in Saros series 149, with a total of 42 occurrences. Total lunar eclipses claim second place, with 15 occurrences.

The 20th century’s penumbral eclipse of Wednesday, June 13, 1984, opened Saros series 149. This eclipse occurred near the southern edge of the penumbra, the shadow’s lighter, outer region. This event staged its greatest eclipse over central west Queensland in northeastern Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere.

The 33rd century’s penumbral eclipse of Friday, July 20, 3246, ends Saros series 111. This eclipse will occur near the penumbra’s northern edge.

The Friday, July 5, 2020, penumbral lunar eclipse occurs as number three within the lineup of 71 lunar eclipses in Saros series 149. July’s penumbral lunar eclipse numbers as third in the opening sequence of seven penumbral lunar eclipses in Saros series 149. This event will experience its greatest eclipse over northwestern Argentina, in the Southern Hemisphere.

The penumbral lunar eclipse of Monday, June 24, 2002, is the immediate predecessor of July’s penumbral lunar eclipse in Saros series 149. This event’s greatest eclipse took place over the Mozambique Channel, between the Southeast African Republic of Mozambique and the East African Republic of Madagascar, in the Southern Hemisphere. The June 2002 penumbral lunar eclipse appears as number two in the series’ lineup of 71 lunar eclipses and in the opening sequence of seven penumbral lunar eclipses.

The penumbral eclipse of Thursday, July 16, 2038, is the successor of July’s penumbral lunar eclipse in Saros series 149. This event’s greatest eclipse will take place over the open waters of the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga and southwest of the Cook Islands (Kūki 'Āirani), in the Southern Hemisphere. This eclipse occurs as number four, both in the lineup of 71 lunar eclipses and in the opening sequence of seven penumbral lunar eclipses.

The takeaway for the Sunday, July 5, 2020, penumbral lunar eclipse is that the third of the year’s four penumbral lunar eclipses belongs to Saros series 149 and occurs as number three in the lineup of 71 lunar eclipses in the series.

Penumbral lunar eclipse of Thursday, July 16, 2038, succeeds the Sunday, July 5, 2020, penumbral lunar eclipse in Saros series 149: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Penumbral lunar eclipse of Wednesday, June 13, 1984, opened Saros 149’s lineup of 71 lunar eclipses: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1901-2000/LE1984-06-13N.gif

Penumbral lunar eclipse of Thursday, July 16, 2038, succeeds the Sunday, July 5, 2020, penumbral lunar eclipse in Saros series 149: "Permission is freely granted to reproduce this data when accompanied by an acknowledgment, Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus (NASA's GSFC)," via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2038-07-16N.gif

For further information:

Espenak, Fred. “Key to Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaroscatkey.html

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 1984 Jun 13.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs: Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Saros Series 149 > 01 -35 1984 Jun 13.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1901-2000/LE1984-06-13N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 2002 Jun 24." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Saros Series 149.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2002-06-24N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 2020 Jul 05." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Saros Series 149.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2020-07-05N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral 2038 Jul 16.” NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs: Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Saros Series 149 > 04 -32 2038 Jul 16.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2038-07-16N.gif

Espenak, Fred. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 2020 Jul 05.” EclipseWise > Lunar Eclipses > Recent and Upcoming Lunar Eclipses > Decade Tables of Lunar Eclipses > 2011-2020.
Available via EclipseWise @ http://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2001-2100/LE2020Jul05Nprime.html

Espenak, Fred; Jean Meeus. "Saros Series 149." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaros149.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Friday, Jan. 10, Lunar Eclipse Is First of Four 2020 Penumbral Eclipses.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/01/friday-jan-10-lunar-eclipse-is-first-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Friday, Jan. 10, Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 144.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/01/friday-jan-10-penumbral-lunar-eclipse.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Friday, June 5, Lunar Eclipse Is Second of Four 2020 Penumbral Eclipses.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/05/friday-june-5-lunar-eclipse-is-second.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Friday, June 5, Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 111.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 3, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/06/friday-june-5-penumbral-lunar-eclipse.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Sunday, July 5, Lunar Eclipse Is Third of Four 2020 Penumbral Eclipses.” Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/06/sunday-july-5-lunar-eclipse-is-third-of.html

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 13 Jun, 1984 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Lunar Catalog > 1001-2000 AD > 1901 AD > 1981-2000 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/1984_06_13

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 5 Jul, 2020 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Solar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2001 AD > 2001-2020 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2020_07_05

Smith, Ian Cameron. “Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 16 Jul, 2038 AD.” Moon Blink > Hermit Eclipse > Eclipse Database > Full Solar Catalog > 2001-3000 AD > 2001 AD > 2021-2040 AD.
Available @ https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2038_07_16