March 1960 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse took place on Sunday, March 13, 1960. The moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow.

This is the 53rd member of Lunar Saros 122. The next event is the March 1978 lunar eclipse.

This eclipse afforded astrophysicist Richard W. Shorthill the opportunity to make the first infrared pyrometric temperature scans of the lunar surface, and led to his discovery of the first lunar "hot spot" observed from Earth. Shorthill found that the temperature of the floor of the Tycho crater was 216° Kelvin (—57°C), significantly higher than the 160K (—113°C) in the area around the crater.

Visibility
It was visible from North America, seen rising from Australia, and eastern Asia, and setting from South America, western Europe and Africa.



Saros series
It was part of Saros series 122.

Tritos series

 * Preceded: Lunar eclipse of April 13, 1949
 * Followed: Lunar eclipse of February 10, 1971

Tzolkinex

 * Preceded: Lunar eclipse of January 19, 1954
 * Followed: Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967