February 2008 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurred on February 20 and February 21, 2008. It was visible in the eastern evening sky on February 20 for all of North and South America, and on February 21 in the predawn western sky from most of Africa and Europe. Greatest Eclipse occurring on Thursday, February 21, 2008, at 03:26:03 UTC, totality lasting 49 minutes and 45.6 seconds.

Occurring 7.1 days after perigee (Perigee on February 14, 2008) and 6.9 days before apogee (Apogee on February 28, 2008), the Moon's apparent diameter was near the average diameter.

The total lunar eclipse was the first of the two lunar eclipses in 2008, with the second, the August 16, 2008 event being partial. The next total lunar eclipse occurred on December 21, 2010. The tables below contain detailed predictions and additional information on the Total Lunar Eclipse of 21 February 2008.

The Moon's apparent diameter was 26.2 arcseconds larger than the August 16, 2008 partial lunar eclipse.

Eclipse season
This is the second eclipse this season.

First eclipse this season: 7 February 2008 Annular Solar Eclipse

Date = 21 February 2008
 * Penumbral Magnitude = 2.14507
 * Umbral Magnitude = 1.10618
 * Gamma: -0.39923
 * Greatest Eclipse: 21 Feb 2008 03:26:03.3 UTC (03:27:08.8 TD)
 * Ecliptic Opposition: 21 Feb 2008 03:30:30.8 UTC (03:31:36.3 TD)
 * Equatorial Opposition: 21 Feb 2008 03:48:25.7 UTC (03:49:31.2 TD)
 * Sun right ascension: 22 hours, 15 minutes, 30.0 seconds
 * Moon right ascension: 10 hours, 14 minutes, 48.5 seconds
 * Earth's shadow right ascension: 10 hours, 15 minutes, 30.0 seconds
 * Sun declination: 10 degrees, 48 minutes, 31.3 seconds south of Celestial Equator
 * Moon declination: 10 degrees, 28 minutes, 7.6 seconds north of Celestial Equator
 * Earth's shadow declination: 10 degrees, 48 minutes, 31.3 seconds north of Celestial Equator
 * Sun diameter: 1941.0 arcseconds
 * Moon diameter: 1868.4 arcseconds
 * Penumbra diameter: 2 degrees, 1684.08 arcseconds (8884.08 arcseconds)
 * Umbra diameter: 1 degree, 1402.56 arcseconds (5002.56 arcseconds)
 * Saros Series: 133rd (26 of 71)
 * Node: Descending Node

Viewing
The eclipse was visible in the eastern evening sky on February 20 for all of North and South America, and on February 21 in the predawn western sky from most of Africa and Europe.

The penumbral eclipse began at 00:35 UTC (February 21), and ended at 6:17. A partial eclipse existed from 1:43 until 3:00, followed by 51 minutes of totality (3:00 - 3:51), and then partial again from 3:51 until 5:09. (For local times, see Timing.)

It is possible to mistake the appearance of partial eclipse as the Moon being in a different phase, but the shadow from the eclipse changes much more rapidly.

The bright star Regulus of Leo and the planet Saturn were prominent very near the Moon during the total eclipse portion. Shortly before the eclipse began, Regulus was occulted by the Moon in parts of the far Southern Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica.

Eclipses of 2008

 * An annular solar eclipse on February 7.
 * A total lunar eclipse on February 21.
 * A total solar eclipse on August 1.
 * A partial lunar eclipse on August 16.

Saros series
This lunar eclipse is part of series 133 of the Saros cycle, which repeats every 18 years and 11 days. Series 133 runs from the year 1557 until 2819. The previous eclipse of this series occurred on February 9, 1990, and the next will occur on March 3, 2026.

It is the 6th of 21 total lunar eclipses in series 133. The first was on December 28, 1917. The last (21st) will be on August 3, 2278. The longest two occurrences of this series (14th and 15th) will last for a total of 1 hour and 42 minutes on May 18, 2152, and May 30, 2170. Solar saros 140 interleaves with this lunar saros with an event occurring every 9 years 5 days alternating between each saros series.

Metonic cycle (19 years)
This is the fourth of five Metonic lunar eclipses.

Half-Saros cycle
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros). This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of Solar Saros 140.

Timing
The Moon entered the penumbral shadow at 0:36 UTC, and the umbral shadow at 1:43. Totality lasted for 50 minutes, between 3:01 and 3:51. The Moon left the umbra shadow at 5:09 and left the penumbra shadow at 6:16.