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May 1966 lunar eclipse

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A penumbral lunar eclipse took place on Wednesday, May 4, 1966, the first of two penumbral lunar eclipses in 1966. It was visible from South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Antarctica.[1]

Visibility

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The penumbral eclipse was visible in South America, Europe, Africa, central Asia and Australia, seen rising over North Atlantic Ocean and South America and setting over Australia, South China Sea and East China Sea as of today.

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Lunar year series

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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 4
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 6
Total
0.36054
141 1969 Apr 2
Penumbral
−1.17648 146 1969 Sep 25
Penumbral
1.06558
Last set 1965 Jun 14 Last set 1965 Dec 8
Next set 1970 Feb 21 Next set 1969 Aug 27

Saros series

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Lunar Saros 111, repeating every 18 years and 11 days, has a total of 71 lunar eclipse events including 11 total lunar eclipses. The first total lunar eclipse of this series was on April 19, 1353, and last was on August 4, 1533. The longest occurrence of this series was on June 12, 1443 when the totality lasted 106 minutes.

Metonic series

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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

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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 118.

April 30, 1957 May 11, 1975

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Hermit Eclipse: Saros cycle 111
  2. ^ Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, The half-saros
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