July 2018 lunar eclipse


A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node on Friday, 27 July 2018. The Moon passed through the center of Earth's shadow in what was the first central lunar eclipse since 15 June 2011. It was also the second total lunar eclipse in 2018, after the one on 31 January. It was the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century, but not the longest in the 3rd millennium. The longest total lunar eclipse of the 3rd millennium will occur on May 12, 2264, lasting 106 minutes and 13.2 seconds.
The eclipse occurred when the Moon was near its maximum distance from Earth, which caused the Moon to appear smaller than normal, and to travel at its slowest speed in its orbit around Earth. This was the longest total lunar eclipse that will occur in the 21st century. Totality lasted one hour and 42.955 minutes, a period "just short of the theoretical limit of a lunar eclipse ". The Moon remained at least partially in Earth's shadow for four hours.
This lunar eclipse coincided with Mars being nearly as close as possible to Earth, a concurrence that happens once every 25,000 years.

Background

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes within Earth's umbra. As the eclipse begins, Earth's shadow first darkens the Moon slightly. Then, the Earth's shadow begins to cover part of the Moon, typically turning it a dark red-brown color. The Moon appears to be reddish because of Rayleigh scattering and the refraction of that light by Earth's atmosphere into its umbra.
The Moon's brightness is exaggerated within the umbral shadow. The southern portion of the Moon was closest to the center of the shadow, making it the darkest, and most red in appearance.

Visibility

The lunar eclipse was completely visible over Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Asia and Central Asia, seen rising over South America, Western Africa, and Europe, and setting over Eastern Asia, and Australia.

Map

Observations

Related eclipses

Eclipses of 2018

Saros series

It last occurred on July 16, 2000 and will next occur on August 7, 2036.
This is the 38th member of Lunar Saros 129. The previous event was the July 2000 lunar eclipse. The next event is the August 2036 lunar eclipse. Lunar Saros 129 contains 11 total lunar eclipses between 1910 and 2090. Solar Saros 136 interleaves with this lunar saros with an event occurring every 9 years 5 days alternating between each saros series.

Half-Saros cycle

A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days. This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 136.
July 22, 2009August 2, 2027

Related eclipses

Inex