May 2003 lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse took place on Friday 16 May 2003, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2003, the other being on 9 November 2003. A shallow total eclipse saw the Moon in relative darkness for 52 minutes and 3.1 seconds. The Moon was 12.938% of its diameter into the Earth's umbral shadow, and should have been significantly darkened. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours, 15 minutes and 3.1 seconds in total. Occurring only 0.5 days after perigee (Perigee on Thursday 15 May 2003), the Moon's apparent diameter was 6.2% larger than average. At greatest eclipse the Moon was only 357,693 km (222,260 mi) from the Earth, making it a Super Full Moon.

This lunar eclipse is first of a tetrad, four total lunar eclipses in series. The previous series was in 1985 and 1986, starting with a May 1985 lunar eclipse. The next one was in 2014 and 2015, starting with the 15 April 2014 lunar eclipse.

Visibility
It was completely visible over central Pacific, North America, South America, Atlantic, Europe, Africa and extreme southwestern Asia, seen rising over central Pacific and North America, and setting over Europe and Africa. In South America the entire eclipse was visible lasting just over 5 hours.



Eclipse season
This is the first eclipse this season.

Second eclipse this season: 31 May 2003 Annular Solar Eclipse

Eclipses of 2003

 * A total lunar eclipse on 16 May.
 * An annular solar eclipse (one limit) on 31 May.
 * A total lunar eclipse on 9 November.
 * A total solar eclipse on 23 November.

Lunar year series
It is also the second of four lunar year cycles, repeating every 354 days.

Metonic series
This eclipse is the second of four Metonic cycle lunar eclipses on the same date, 15–16 May, each separated by 19 years.

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 128.