Summary: The Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial lunar eclipse belongs to Saros cycle 118, a series of 73 similar lunar eclipses.
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| Penumbral eclipse of March 2, 1105, opened the 73-member lineup of lunar Saros 118: "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 Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial lunar eclipse belongs to Saros series 118, a family of 73 lunar eclipses with similar geometries.
September's partial lunar eclipse begins Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, at 00:41:00 Coordinated Universal Time (Tuesday, Sep. 17, at 8:41 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) as a penumbral eclipse. The event's partial component starts Wednesday, Sep. 18, at 02:12:45 UTC (Tuesday, Sep. 17, at 10:12 p.m. EDT). Greatest eclipse, which registers the instant of the closest lunar passage to the axis of Earth's shadow cone, occurs Wednesday, Sep. 18, at 02:44:16 UTC (Tuesday, Sep. 17, at 10:44 p.m. EDT. The event's partial eclipse closes Wednesday, Sep. 18, at 03:16:24 UTC (Tuesday, Sep. 17, at 11:16 p.m. EDT). The end of the event's penumbral eclipse, which happens Wednesday, Sep. 18, at 04:47:56 UTC (Wednesday, Sep. 18, at 12:47 a.m. EDT), terminates the September lunar eclipse.
September's partial lunar eclipse numbers as 52 in the lineup of 73 lunar eclipses that comprise Saros lunar cycle 118. Similar geometries group the 73 lunar eclipses into a family, known as a series.
Occurrence at the moon's ascending node characterizes the 73 lunar eclipses in Saros cycle 113. A pair of nodes marks the two intersections of the lunar orbit with the ecliptic, Earth's orbital plane around the sun. The nodal pair represents the approximately 5.1 degree tilt of the lunar orbit with respect to Earth's orbit. An ascending node-occurring cycle exhibits progressively southward shifts in subsequent eclipses with respect to the axis of Earth's shadow. A descending node-occurring cycle reveals progressively northward shifts in subsequent eclipses with respect to the axis of Earth's shadow, as explained by NASA astrophysicist, now retired, Fred Espenak in "Eclipses and the Saros" on the NASA Eclipse Web Site.
Saros 118 cycle's ascending node-occurring lunar eclipses trace southward movement with each eclipse. The lunar eclipse of March 2, 1105, opened Saros lunar series 118 as a penumbral eclipse occurring near the northern edge of Earth's penumbra (n: penumbra, from paene, "almost, nearly" + umbra, "shadow"), the shadow's lighter, outer portion. The penumbral lunar eclipse that closes Saros 118 on Wednesday, May 7, 2403, will take place near the penumbra's southern edge, according to eclipse predictions by Fred Espenak and Jean Meeus in "Saros Series 118" on the NASA Eclipse Web Site.
The Saros cycle's length of approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours) influences the periodicity and recurrence of eclipses in each Saros series. Approximately 18 years separate each of the 73 eclipses in lunar Saros 118. Lunar Saros 118 stretches from the 12th through 25th centuries. Saros 118 has a total duration of 1,298.17 years.
The 73 lunar eclipses in lunar Saros 118 organize as nine penumbral, seven partial, 28 total, eight partial and 21 penumbral. With 30 occurrences, penumbral eclipses dominate Saros 118 as the cycle's most frequent eclipse type. Total lunar eclipses secure placement as the cycle's second most frequent eclipse type with 28 occurrences. Partial lunar eclipses qualify as the cycle's least frequent eclipse type with 15 instances.
The Saros 118 cycle's opening penumbral eclipse on March 2, 1105, continentally disfavored South America with no visibility of the event. Australia and Asia experienced full visibility. Most of North America, much of Antarctica and over half of Africa were excluded from the eclipse's visibility region. Greatest eclipse occurred over the western Pacific marginal seas between the Philippines and Borneo (Indonesian: Kalimantan).
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| Partial eclipse of Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, numbers as the eighth eclipse in Saros 118 cycle's second set of partial eclipses and as 52nd in the cycle's 73-member lineup: "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 Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial eclipse occurs in the second of Saros 118 cycle's two sets of partial eclipses. September's event numbers as eighth and last in the second set and as 52nd in the cycle's lineup of 73 eclipses. This partial eclipse continentally favors South America with full visibility. Australia is the only continent excluded from the event's visibility region. Varying visibility is available to Earth's other five continents. The moon's reach of its zenithal point at greatest eclipse pinpoints the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, offshore of the state of Maranhão in Brazil's Northeast Region (Portuguese: Região Nordeste).
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| Partial eclipse of Sunday, July 3, 1898, opened lunar Saros 118 cycle's second set of partial eclipses as the first of the set's eight members and as 45th in the cycle's 73-member lineup: "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 partial eclipse of Sunday, July 3, 1898, opened the second set of Saros 118 cycle's partial eclipses. The second set's opener numbered as 45 in the cycle's lineup of 73 eclipses. The July 1898 partial lunar eclipse continentally favored Antarctica with full visibility. North America was mainly disfavored, with little visibility. Varying visibilities were available to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America. Greatest eclipse's zenithal point occurred around southwestern Madagascar (Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara; French: République de Madagascar).
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| Partial eclipse of Thursday, Sep. 7, 2006, which numbered as seventh in Saros 118 cycle's second partial set and as 51st in the cycle's 73-member lineup, was the immediate predecessor of the Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial eclipse: "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 partial eclipse of Thursday, Sep. 7, 2006, preceded the Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial eclipse. The September 2006 event numbered as seventh in the Saros 118 cycle's eight-member second partial set and as 51st in the cycle's lineup of 73 eclipses. This partial eclipse disfavored North America. Also, most of South America was excluded from the event's visibility region. Varying visibilities were available to Earth's other five continents. Greatest eclipse's zenithal point associated with the central Indian Ocean.
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| Penumbral eclipse of Monday, Sep. 29, 2042, numbering as first of 21 eclipses in Saros 118 cycle's second penumbral set and as 53rd in the cycle's 73-member lineup, is the immediate successor of the Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial eclipse: "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 penumbral eclipse of Monday, Sep. 29, 2042, is the immediate successor of the Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial eclipse in lunar Saros series 118. The September 2042 event opens Saros 118 cycle's second of two penumbral sets. The cycle's second penumbral set also closes the cycle's fifth and last set. The September 2042 penumbral eclipse numbers as 53 in Saros 118 cycle's 73-member lineup. The second penumbral set's opener disfavors Africa and Europe. Earth's other five continents experience a range of visibilities. Greatest eclipse's zenithal point will be in the central Pacific Ocean.
The penumbral eclipse of Wednesday, May 7, 2403, closes Saros 118 cycle's second penumbral set as the set's 21st and last eclipse and as the cycle's 73rd and last eclipse. The May 2403 event favors Australia and disfavors Africa and Europe. Much of Asia falls within the event's non-visibility region. Antarctica mostly experiences visibility. Varying visibilities are available to the Americas. Greatest eclipse's zenithal point pinpoints the central South Pacific Ocean.
Lunar Saros 118 cycle registers a difference of 2 hours 11 minutes 59 seconds between its longest and shortest partial eclipses. The partial eclipse of Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, rates as the cycle's shortest partial eclipse, with a duration of 1 hour 2 minutes 47 seconds. The partial eclipse of Saturday, Aug. 12, 1375, qualifies as the cycle's longest partial eclipse, with a duration of 3 hours 14 minutes 46 seconds. The August 1375 event occurred as the seventh and last eclipse in Saros 118 cycle's seven-member first set of partial eclipses. The cycle's longest enduring partial eclipse numbered as 16 in the cycle's lineup of 73 eclipses.
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| Penumbral eclipse of Wednesday, May 7, 2403, closes Saros 118 cycle's second penumbral set as the set's 21st and last eclipse and as the 73rd and last eclipse in the cycle's 73-member lineup: "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.
Dedication
Dedication
This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.
Image credits:
Image credits:
Penumbral eclipse of March 2, 1105, opened the 73-member lineup of lunar Saros 118: "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/1101-1200/LE1105-03-02N.gif
Partial eclipse of Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, numbers as the eighth eclipse in Saros 118 cycle's second set of partial eclipses and as 52nd in the cycle's 73-member lineup: "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/LE2024-09-18P.gif
Partial eclipse of Sunday, July 3, 1898, opened lunar Saros 118 cycle's second set of partial eclipses as the first of the set's eight members and as 45th in the cycle's 73-member lineup: "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/1801-1900/LE1898-07-03P.gif
Partial eclipse of Thursday, Sep. 7, 2006, which numbered as seventh in Saros 118 cycle's second partial set and as 51st in the cycle's 73-member lineup, was the immediate predecessor of the Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial eclipse: "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/LE2006-03-14N.gif
Penumbral eclipse of Monday, Sep. 29, 2042, numbering as first of 21 eclipses in Saros 118 cycle's second penumbral set and as 53rd in the cycle's 73-member lineup, is the immediate successor of the Wednesday, Sep. 18, 2024, partial eclipse: "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/LE2042-04-05N.gif
Penumbral eclipse of Wednesday, May 7, 2403, closes Saros 118 cycle's second penumbral set as the set's 21st and last eclipse and as the 73rd and last eclipse in the cycle's 73-member lineup: "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/2401-2500/LE2403-05-07N.gif
For further information:
For further information:
Espenak, Fred. "Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 118." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Summary of Saros Series 101 to 125 > 118.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaros118.html
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaros118.html
Espenak, Fred. "Eclipses and the Saros." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipses -- Special Interest > Eclipses and the Saros.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsaros/SEsaros.html
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsaros/SEsaros.html
Espenak, Fred. "Key to Lunar Eclipse Global Maps." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipses: 2021-2030.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplotkey.html
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplotkey.html
Espenak, Fred. "Partial 1898 Jul 03." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Summary of Saros Series 101 to 125 > 118 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 118 > 45 08.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1801-1900/LE1898-07-03P.gif
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1801-1900/LE1898-07-03P.gif
Espenak, Fred. "Partial 2006 Sep 07." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Summary of Saros Series 101 to 125 > 118 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 118 > 51 14.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2006-09-07P.gif
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2006-09-07P.gif
Espenak, Fred. "Partial 2024 Sep 18." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Summary of Saros Series 101 to 125 > 118 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 118 > 52 15.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2024-09-18P.gif
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2024-09-18P.gif
Espenak, Fred. "Penumbral 1105 Mar 02." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Summary of Saros Series 101 to 125 > 118 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 118 > 01 -36.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1101-1200/LE1105-03-02N.gif
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/1101-1200/LE1105-03-02N.gif
Espenak, Fred. "Penumbral 2042 Sep 29." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Summary of Saros Series 101 to 125 > 118 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 118 > 53 16.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2042-09-29N.gif
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2001-2100/LE2042-09-29N.gif
Espenak, Fred. "Penumbral 2403 May 07." NASA Eclipse Web Site > Lunar Eclipse Page > Lunar Eclipse Catalogs > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series > Lunar Eclipses of Saros Series 1 to 180 > Summary of Saros Series 101 to 125 > 118 > Catalog of Lunar Eclipse Saros Series: Saros Series 118 > 73 36.
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2401-2500/LE2403-05-07N.gif
Available via NASA Eclipse Web Site @ https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCLEmap/2401-2500/LE2403-05-07N.gif
Espenak, Fred. "Saros 118 Catalog of Lunar Eclipses of Saros 118." EclipseWise > Lunar Eclipses > Lunar Eclipse Links > Saros Catalog of Lunar Eclipses -- covers Saros series -29 through 190 > Summary of Saros Series 91 to 120 > 118.
Available via EclipseWise @ https://www.eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEsaros/LEsaros118.html
Available via EclipseWise @ https://www.eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEsaros/LEsaros118.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "April 25, 2013 Partial Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 112." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 24, 2013.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/april-25-2013-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/april-25-2013-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Friday, Nov. 19, Partial Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Cycle 126." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/friday-nov-19-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/friday-nov-19-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "July 16-17, 2019, Partial Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Cycle 139." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, July 17, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/07/july-16-17-2019-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/07/july-16-17-2019-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "June 4, 2012, Partial Lunar Eclipse Belongs to Saros Series 140." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 23, 2012.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/05/june-4-2012-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/05/june-4-2012-partial-lunar-eclipse.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Wednesday, Sep. 18, Partial Lunar Eclipse Is Second 2024 Lunar Eclipse." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Sep. 11, 2024.
Available @
Available @
