Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21

Fred Espenak

Key to Lunar Eclipse Figure (below)

Introduction

The Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21 is visible from the following geographic regions:

  • Americas, Europe, Africa, central Atlantic

The diagram to the right depicts the Moon's path with respect to Earth's umbral and penumbral shadows. Below it is a map showing the geographic regions of eclipse visibility. Click on the figure to enlarge it. For an explanation of the features appearing in the figure, see Key to Lunar Eclipse Figures.

The instant of greatest eclipse takes place on 2008 Feb 21 at 03:27:09 TD (03:26:03 UT1). This is 6.9 days before the Moon reaches apogee. During the eclipse, the Moon is in the constellation Leo. The synodic month in which the eclipse takes place has a Brown Lunation Number of 1053.

The eclipse belongs to Saros 133 and is number 26 of 71 eclipses in the series. All eclipses in this series occur at the Moon’s descending node. The Moon moves northward with respect to the node with each succeeding eclipse in the series and gamma increases.

The total lunar eclipse of 2008 Feb 21 is preceded two weeks earlier by a annular solar eclipse on 2008 Feb 07.

These eclipses all take place during a single eclipse season.

The eclipse predictions are given in both Terrestrial Dynamical Time (TD) and Universal Time (UT1). The parameter ΔT is used to convert between these two times (i.e., TD = UT1 + ΔT). ΔT has a value of 65.5 seconds for this eclipse.

The following links provide maps and data for the eclipse.

The tables below contain detailed predictions and additional information on the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21 .

Eclipse Data: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21

Eclipse Characteristics
Parameter Value
Penumbral Magnitude 2.14698
Umbral Magnitude 1.10809
Gamma-0.39923
Epsilon 0.3802°
Opposition Times
Event Calendar Date & Time Julian Date
Greatest Eclipse 2008 Feb 21 at 03:27:08.8 TD (03:26:03.3 UT1) 2454517.643093
Ecliptic Opposition 2008 Feb 21 at 03:31:36.3 TD (03:30:30.8 UT1) 2454517.646189
Equatorial Opposition 2008 Feb 21 at 03:49:31.2 TD (03:48:25.7 UT1) 2454517.658630
Geocentric Coordinates of Sun and Moon
2008 Feb 21 at 03:27:08.8 TD (03:26:03.3 UT1)
Coordinate Sun Moon
Right Ascension22h15m30.0s10h14m48.5s
Declination-10°48'31.3"+10°28'07.6"
Semi-Diameter 16'10.5" 15'34.2"
Eq. Hor. Parallax 08.9" 0°57'08.5"
Geocentric Libration of Moon
Angle Value
l 4.8°
b 0.5°
c 19.4°
Earth's Shadows
Parameter Value
Penumbral Radius 1.2374°
Umbral Radius 0.6982°
Prediction Paramaters
Paramater Value
Ephemerides JPL DE430
ΔT 65.5 s
Shadow Rule Herald/Sinnott
Shadow Enlargement 1.000
Saros Series 133 (26/71)

Explanation of Lunar Eclipse Data Tables

Eclipse Contacts: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21

Lunar Eclipse Contacts
Eclipse Event Contact Time
TD		 Time
UT1		 Zenith Latitude Zenith Longitude Position Angle Axis Distance
Penumbral BeginsP100:37:15.300:36:09.811°09.4'N007°05.7'W 281.9° 1.4982°
Partial BeginsU101:43:56.401:42:50.910°53.2'N023°14.9'W 273.2° 0.9586°
Total BeginsU203:01:38.503:00:33.010°34.3'N042°04.3'W 236.4° 0.4379°
Greatest EclipseGreatest03:27:08.803:26:03.310°28.1'N048°15.0'W 206.6° 0.3802°
Total EndsU303:52:05.603:51:00.110°22.0'N054°17.7'W 177.4° 0.4355°
Partial EndsU405:10:03.505:08:57.910°03.0'N073°11.1'W 140.1° 0.9550°
Penumbral EndsP406:16:58.306:15:52.709°46.6'N089°23.9'W 131.4° 1.4941°
Eclipse Durations
Eclipse Phase Duration
Penumbral (P4 - P1)05h39m42.9s
Partial (U4 - U1)03h26m07.1s
Total (U3 - U2)00h50m27.1s

Explanation of Lunar Eclipse Contacts Table

Polynomial Besselian Elements: Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21

Polynomial Besselian Elements
2008 Feb 21 at 03:00:00.0 TD (=t0)
n x y d f1 f2 f3
0 -0.37716 -0.23620 -0.1888 1.23758 0.69841 0.25954
1 0.45717 -0.22912 0.0003 -0.00041 -0.00040 -0.00011
2 -0.00022 0.00005 0.0000 -0.00000 -0.00000 -0.00000
3 -0.00001 0.00000 - - - -

At time t1 (decimal hours), each besselian element is evaluated by:

x = x0 + x1*t + x2*t2 + x3*t3 (or x = Σ [xn*tn]; n = 0 to 3)

where: t = t1 - t0 (decimal hours) and t0 = 3.000

Explanation of Besselian Elements

Eclipse Publications

jpeg jpeg
jpeg jpeg
jpeg

For more visit: AstroPixels Publishing


Links for the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21

Links to Additional Lunar Eclipse Information

• Decade Tables of Lunar Eclipses:
| 1901 - 1910 | 1911 - 1919 | 1921 - 1930 | 1931 - 1940 | 1941 - 1950 |
| 1951 - 1960 | 1961 - 1970 | 1971 - 1980 | 1981 - 1990 | 1991 - 2000 |
| 2001 - 2010 | 2011 - 2020 | 2021 - 2030 | 2031 - 2040 | 2041 - 2050 |
| 2051 - 2060 | 2061 - 2070 | 2071 - 2080 | 2081 - 2090 | 2091 - 2100 |

Lunar Eclipse Publications

Eclipse Predictions

Predictions for the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2008 Feb 21 were generated using the JPL DE430 solar and lunar ephemerides. The lunar coordinates were calculated with respect to the Moon's Center of Mass.

The elliptical shape of Earth's umbral and penumbral shadows were calculated using the Herald/Sinnott method of modeling Earth's shadows to compensate for the opacity of the terrestrial atmosphere (including the oblateness of Earth).

The predictions are given in both Terrestrial Dynamical Time (TD) and Universal Time (UT1). The parameter ΔT is used to convert between these two times (i.e., UT1 = TD - ΔT). ΔT has a value of 65.5 seconds for this eclipse.

Acknowledgments

Some of the content on this web site is based on the book 21st Century Canon of Lunar Eclipses. All eclipse calculations are by Fred Espenak, and he assumes full responsibility for their accuracy.

Permission is granted to reproduce eclipse data when accompanied by a link to this page and an acknowledgment:

"Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, www.EclipseWise.com"

The use of diagrams and maps is permitted provided that they are NOT altered (except for re-sizing) and the embedded credit line is NOT removed or covered.