Crater Immersion and Emersion Times for the Total Lunar Eclipses During 2003

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 01:05:16 UT / 8:05:16 p.m. EST
Partial Eclipse Begins: 02:02:42 UT / 9:02:42 p.m. EST
Total Eclipse Begins: 03:13:40 UT / 10:13:40 p.m. EST
Greatest Eclipse: 03:40:01 UT / 10:40:01 p.m. EST
Total Eclipse Ends: 04:06:22 UT / 11:06:22 p.m. EST
Partial Eclipse Ends: 05:17:20 UT / 12:17:20 a.m. EST
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 06:14:47 UT / 01:14:47 a.m. EST

The first eclipse of the year is a total lunar eclipse which is well placed for Western Hemisphere observers. The eclipse occurs just half a day after perigee so the Moon will appear quite large (33.4 arc-minutes). During this event, the Moon is low on the ecliptic in Libra approximately fifteen degrees west of the first magnitude star Alpha Scorpii (Antares).

The Moon's path takes it through the northern part of Earth's umbral shadow. Although the eclipse is not central, the total phase still lasts 1 hour 37 minutes. The eclipse begins at 01:05 UT with first penumbral contact. An hour later, the partial eclipse commences with first umbral contact at 02:03 UT. The total umbral eclipse begins at 03:14 UT and ends at 04:07 UT. The partial phase ends at 05:17 UT and the Moon leaves the penumbral shadow at 06:15 UT. The Moon's path through Earth's shadows as well as a map illustrating worldwide visibility of the event is shown in Figure 1.

At the instant of greatest eclipse (03:40 UT), the Moon will lie in the zenith for observers in southern Brazil near its western border with Bolivia and Paraguay. At this time, the umbral magnitude1 peaks at 1.134 as the Moon's southern limb passes 8.6 arc-minutes north of the shadow's axis. In contrast, the Moon's northern limb will lie 4.5 arc-minutes from the northern edge of the umbra and 25.3 arc-minutes from the shadow centre. Thus, the northern sections of the Moon will appear much brighter than the southern part which will lie deeper in the shadow. Since the Moon samples a large range of umbral depths during totality, its appearance will likely change dramatically with time. However, it's impossible to predict the exact brightness distribution in the umbra so observers are encouraged to estimate the Danjon value at different times during totality (see section: Danjon Scale of Lunar Eclipse Brightness). Note that it may also be necessary to assign different Danjon values to different portions of the Moon (i.e. - north vs. south).

During totality, the spring constellations will be well placed for viewing. Spica (mv = +0.98) lies 32° west of the eclipsed Moon, while Arcturus (mv = -0.05) is 43° to the northwest. Jupiter will appear low in the west in Cancer.

The eclipse will be widely visible from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The eastern half of North America will witness the entire event, while the partial phases will already be in progress at moonrise from the western portions of the continent. Similarly, the Moon sets in Europe during various stages of the eclipse. Observers in Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime Provinces and eastern U. S. will see all phases of the eclipse. Farther to the west, the eclipse begins before moonrise but totality will still be visible from the region except from Yukon and Alaska.

The table below lists predicted umbral immersion and emersion times for twenty well-defined lunar craters. The timing of craters is useful in determining the atmospheric enlargement of Earth's shadow.

Crater Immersion and Emersion Times for the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003 May 16

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Total Lunar Eclipse of November 09

Penumbral Eclipse Begins: 22:15:00 UT / 5:15:00 p.m. EST
Partial Eclipse Begins: 23:32:21 UT / 6:32:21 p.m. EST
Total Eclipse Begins: 01:06:07 UT / 7:06:07 p.m. EST
Greatest Eclipse: 01:18:23 UT / 7:18:23 p.m. EST
Total Eclipse Ends: 01:30:38 UT / 7:30:38 p.m. EST
Partial Eclipse Ends: 03:04:24 UT / 9:04:24 p.m. EST
Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 04:21:48 UT / 10:21:48 p.m. EST

The second lunar eclipse of the year occurs six lunations after the first. It takes place at the ascending node of Luna's orbit in Aries. This time, the Moon is 1.4 days shy of apogee and appears 12% smaller (= 29.4 arc-minutes) than it was during May's eclipse. The Moon's trajectory takes it well to the south of the umbral shadow's central axis resulting in a total eclipse, which lasts just 25 minutes. At mid-totality, the Moon's southern limb is only 0.6 arc-minutes from the umbra's edge. Even the northern limb is 23.4 arc-minutes from the centre of the shadow. Assuming that the transparency of Earth's atmosphere remains relatively unchanged, the November eclipse will be dramatically brighter than the May event because of the shallow umbral depth. Since different parts of the Moon will probe radically different portions of Earth's umbral shadow, a large variation in shadow brightness can be expected. The totally eclipsed Moon will appear to have a bright rim along its southern edge. Observers are encouraged to estimate the Danjon value at mid-totality (see section: Danjon Scale of Lunar Eclipse Brightness).

The near grazing geometry of this event suggests that it is a transition eclipse in its Saros series. Indeed, it is the very last total eclipse of Saros 126. This series produced thirteen total lunar eclipses during the past 234 years. The next nineteen eclipses in the family will all be partial eclipses of decreasing duration and magnitude.

The penumbral phase of November's eclipse begins at 22:15 UT (on Nov 08), but most observers will not be able to visually detect the shadow until about 23:00 UT. The partial eclipse commences with first umbral contact at 23:33 UT. Totality begins at 01:06 UT and lasts until 01:31 UT. The partial and penumbral phases end at 03:05 UT and 04:22 UT, respectively.

At the instant of mid-totality (01:19 UT), the Moon will stand at the zenith for observers near the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic. At that time, the umbral eclipse magnitude will be 1.022. The entire eclipse will be visible from Europe and most of Africa as well as the eastern Americas. Various stages of the eclipse are in progress at moonset for observers throughout Asia. In the Western Hemisphere, the ingressing partial phases will already be in progress at moonrise for observers in western Canada and the U. S.. The Moon's path through Earth's shadows as well as a map illustrating worldwide visibility of the event is shown in Figure 4. Note that no eclipse is visible from easternmost Asia, Japan, Indonesia or Australia. As before, the table below lists predicted umbral immersion and emersion times for twenty well-defined lunar craters. Again the timing of craters is useful in determining the atmospheric enlargement of Earth's shadow.

Crater Immersion and Emersion Times for the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003 Nov 09

Predictions include 2% enlargement of the umbral shadow due to Earth's atmosphere.

Figure 1
Projected Path of the May 15/16 2003 Full Lunar Eclipse

Figure 4
Projected Path of the Nevember 9 2003 Full Lunar Eclipse

References:
Fred Espenak

Observer's Handbook 2003, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada