View source for May 2003 lunar eclipse

{{Short description|Total lunar eclipse 16 May 2003}}
{{Infobox lunar eclipse
| type       = total
| image      = Lunar eclipse May 2003-TLR75.jpg
| caption    = Totality as viewed from [[Minneapolis, MN]], 3:17 UTC
| date       = May 16, 2003
| gamma      = 0.4123
| magnitude  = 1.1294
| saros_ser  = 121
| saros_no   = 54 of 82
| totality   = 51 minutes, 12 seconds
| partiality = 193 minutes, 53 seconds
| penumbral  = 306 minutes, 31 seconds
| p1         = 1:06:53
| u1         = 2:03:11
| u2         = 3:14:26
| greatest   = 3:40:09
| u3         = 4:05:51
| u4         = 5:17:05
| p4         = 6:13:24
| previous   = November 2002
| next       = November 2003
}}
A total [[lunar eclipse]] occurred at the Moon’s [[Lunar node|descending node]] of orbit on Friday, May 16, 2003,<ref>{{cite web|title=May 15–16, 2003 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2003-may-15|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref> with an umbral [[Magnitude of eclipse|magnitude]] of 1.1294. A lunar eclipse occurs when the [[Moon]] moves into the [[Earth's shadow]], causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow. Unlike a [[solar eclipse]], which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the [[night]] side of Earth. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's [[Umbra, penumbra and antumbra|shadow]] is smaller. Occurring only about 15 hours after [[Apsis|perigee]] (on May 15, 2003, at 11:40 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.<ref>{{cite web|title=Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/distance.html?year=2003&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

This lunar eclipse marks the beginning of a [[Tetrad (astronomy)|tetrad]], with four total lunar eclipses in series, the others being on [[November 2003 lunar eclipse|November 9, 2003]]; [[May 2004 lunar eclipse|May 4, 2004]]; and [[October 2004 lunar eclipse|October 28, 2004]]. The previous series was in 1985 and 1986, starting with the [[May 1985 lunar eclipse]]. The next series was in 2014 and 2015, starting with the [[April 2014 lunar eclipse]].

== Visibility ==
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern [[North America]], [[South America]], the [[Caribbean]], [[Antarctica]], and [[west Africa]], seen rising over western [[North America]] and the [[Pacific Ocean]] and setting over [[Europe]], [[west Asia]], and much of [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003 May 16|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2003May16T.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable width=480
|[[File:Lunar eclipse from moon-2003May16.png|240px]]
|[[File:Lunar eclipse chart close-03may16.png|240px]]<BR>Hourly motion shown right to left
|- align=center
|colspan=2| [[File:Lunar eclipse chart-03may16.png|250px]]<BR>The moon's path across the Earth's shadow near its descending node in [[Libra (constellation)|Libra]].
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Lunar eclipse May 2003-TLR100.jpg|Wide Angle view from [[Minneapolis]] at 3:35 UTC, near greatest eclipse
</gallery>

== Eclipse details ==
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular solar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Total Lunar Eclipse of 2003 May 16|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/2001-2100/LE2003May16Tprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=12 November 2024}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" align="{{{align|left}}}" style="margin:{{#ifeq:{{{align}}}|right|0 0 0.5em 1em|0 1em 0.5em 0}}"
|+May 16, 2003 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
! Parameter
! Value
|-
| Penumbral Magnitude
| 2.07649
|-
| Umbral Magnitude
| 1.12938
|-
| Gamma
| 0.41234
|-
| Sun Right Ascension
| 03h30m07.2s
|-
| Sun Declination
| +18°59'20.2"
|-
| Sun Semi-Diameter
| 15'49.2"
|-
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax
| 08.7"
|-
| Moon Right Ascension
| 15h30m43.0s
|-
| Moon Declination
| -18°35'31.7"
|-
| Moon Semi-Diameter
| 16'42.2"
|-
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax
| 1°01'18.2"
|-
| ΔT
| 64.4 s
|}
{{clear}}

== Eclipse season ==
{{See also|Eclipse cycle}}
This eclipse is part of an [[eclipse season]], a period, roughly every six months, when eclipses occur. Only two (or occasionally three) eclipse seasons occur each year, and each season lasts about 35 days and repeats just short of six months (173 days) later; thus two full eclipse seasons always occur each year. Either two or three eclipses happen each eclipse season. In the sequence below, each eclipse is separated by a [[fortnight]].

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Eclipse season of May 2003
! May 16<br/>Descending node (full moon)<br/> !! [[Solar eclipse of May 31, 2003|May 31]]<br/>Ascending node (new moon)<br/>
|-
| [[File:Lunar eclipse chart close-03may16.png|200px]] || [[File:SE2003May31A.png|200px]]
|- align=center
| [[Lunar eclipse#Types of lunar eclipse|Total lunar eclipse]]<br />Lunar Saros 121 || [[Total eclipse#Types|Annular solar eclipse]]<br />Solar Saros 147
|}

== Related eclipses ==
=== Eclipses in 2003 ===
* '''A total lunar eclipse on May 16.'''
* [[Solar eclipse of May 31, 2003|An annular solar eclipse on May 31]].
* [[November 2003 lunar eclipse|A total lunar eclipse on November 9]].
* [[Solar eclipse of November 23, 2003|A total solar eclipse on November 23]].

=== Metonic ===
* Preceded by: [[July 1999 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of July 28, 1999]]
* Followed by: [[March 2007 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2007]]

=== Tzolkinex ===
* Preceded by: [[April 1996 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of April 4, 1996]]
* Followed by: [[June 2010 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of June 26, 2010]]

=== Half-Saros ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of May 10, 1994]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of May 20, 2012]]

=== Tritos ===
* Preceded by: [[June 1992 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992]]
* Followed by: [[April 2014 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014]]

=== Lunar Saros 121 ===
* Preceded by: [[May 1985 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1985]]
* Followed by: [[May 2021 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of May 26, 2021]]

=== Inex ===
* Preceded by: [[June 1974 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1974]]
* Followed by: [[April 2032 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of April 25, 2032]]

=== Triad ===
* Preceded by: [[July 1916 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of July 15, 1916]]
* Followed by: [[March 2090 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of March 15, 2090]]

=== Lunar eclipses of 2002–2005 ===
{{Lunar eclipse set 2002-2005}}

=== Metonic series ===
{{Metonic lunar eclipse 1984-2041}}

=== Saros 121 ===
{{Lunar Saros series 121}}

=== Tritos series ===
{{Lunar Tritos series May 2003}}

=== Inex series ===
{{Lunar Inex series May 2003}}

=== Half-Saros cycle ===
A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a [[Saros (astronomy)#Relationship between lunar and solar saros .28sar.29|half saros]]).<ref>Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, p.110, Chapter 18, ''The half-saros''</ref> This lunar eclipse is related to two annular solar eclipses of [[Solar Saros 128]].
{| class=wikitable
![[Solar eclipse of May 10, 1994|May 10, 1994]]
![[Solar eclipse of May 20, 2012|May 20, 2012]]
|-
|[[File:SE1994May10A.png|240px]]
|[[File:SE2012May20A.png|240px]]
|}

== See also ==
*[[List of lunar eclipses]] and [[List of 21st-century lunar eclipses]]
*[[November 2003 lunar eclipse]]
*[[October 2004 lunar eclipse]]
*[[May 2004 lunar eclipse]]

==References==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.hermit.org/eclipse/gen_stats.cgi?mode=query&page=full&qtype=type&body=L&saros=121 Saros cycle 121]
* {{LEplot2001 link|2003|May|16|T}}
* [http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaros121.html NASA Saros series 121]
* [http://www.spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_15may03.html Lunar Eclipse Gallery]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080724144145/http://www.space.com/spacewatch/eclipse_post_030516.html Pictures of the May 15-16 Lunar Eclipse]
* [http://www.zam.fme.vutbr.cz/~druck/Eclipse/Ecll2003m/0-info.htm Prof. Druckmüller's eclipse photography site. Czech Republic]

{{Lunar eclipses}}
{{commons category|Lunar eclipse of 2003 May 16}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lunar eclipse 2003-05}}
[[Category:21st-century lunar eclipses|2003-05]]
[[Category:2003 in science]]
[[Category:May 2003]]