2405:6E00:2640:D199:BCE0:73A5:BCC4:9085 at 17:33, 28 March 2025

2025-03-28T17:33:33Z

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{{Short description|Total lunar eclipse April 4, 1996}}
{{Infobox lunar eclipse
| type = total
| image = Lunar eclipse April 4 1996 Hamois Belgium.jpg
| caption = Totality as viewed from [[Hamois]], [[Belgium]].
| date = April 4, 1996
| gamma = −0.2534
| magnitude = 1.3795
| saros_ser = 122
| saros_no = 55 of 75
| totality = 85 minutes, 45 seconds
| partiality = 217 minutes, 8 seconds
| penumbral = 344 minutes, 43 seconds
| p1 = 21:17:22
| u1 = 22:21:13
| u2 = 23:26:54
| greatest = 0:09:46
| u3 = 0:52:39
| u4 = 1:58:21
| p4 = 3:02:04
| previous = October 1995
| next = September 1996
}}
A total [[lunar eclipse]] occurred at the Moon’s [[Lunar node|ascending node]] of orbit on Thursday, April 4, 1996,<ref>{{cite web|title=April 3–4, 1996 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/1996-april-4|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref> with an umbral [[Magnitude of eclipse|magnitude]] of 1.3795. It was a [[List of central lunar eclipses|central lunar eclipse]], in which part of the [[Moon]] passed through the [[antisolar point|center]] of the [[Earth's shadow]]. 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. The Moon's apparent diameter was near the average diameter because it occurred 6.9 days after [[Apsis|apogee]] (on March 28, 1996, at 2:40 UTC) and 7.2 days before [[Apsis|perigee]] (on April 11, 1996, at 3:45 UTC).<ref>{{cite web|title=Moon Distances for London, United Kingdom, England|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/distance.html?year=1996&n=136|publisher=timeanddate|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref>

This lunar eclipse was the first of an [[Tetrad (astronomy)|almost tetrad]], with the others being on [[September 1996 lunar eclipse|September 27, 1996]] (total); [[March 1997 lunar eclipse|March 24, 1997]] (partial); and [[September 1997 lunar eclipse|September 16, 1997]] (total).

This was the last central member and 55th overall member of [[Lunar Saros 122]].

== Visibility ==
The eclipse was completely visible over eastern [[South America]], [[Europe]], and [[Africa]], seen rising over much of [[North America]] and western and central South America and setting over much of [[Asia]] and western [[Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Total Lunar Eclipse of 1996 Apr 04|url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot1951/LE1996Apr04T.pdf|publisher=NASA|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|[[File:Lunar eclipse from moon-1996Apr04.png|300px]] [[File:Lunar eclipse chart close-1996Apr04.png|300px]]
|}

== Gallery==
{|
|- align=center
|[[File:Eclipse lune.jpg]] [[Hamois]], Belgium
|}

== Eclipse details ==
Shown below is a table displaying details about this particular lunar eclipse. It describes various parameters pertaining to this eclipse.<ref>{{cite web|title=Total Lunar Eclipse of 1996 Apr 04|url=https://eclipsewise.com/lunar/LEprime/1901-2000/LE1996Apr04Tprime.html|publisher=EclipseWise.com|access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" align="{{{align|left}}}" style="margin:{{#ifeq:{{{align}}}|right|0 0 0.5em 1em|0 1em 0.5em 0}}"
|+April 4, 1996 Lunar Eclipse Parameters
! Parameter
! Value
|-
| Penumbral Magnitude
| 2.40683
|-
| Umbral Magnitude
| 1.37949
|-
| Gamma
| −0.25339
|-
| Sun Right Ascension
| 00h53m26.5s
|-
| Sun Declination
| +05°43'14.0"
|-
| Sun Semi-Diameter
| 15'59.5"
|-
| Sun Equatorial Horizontal Parallax
| 08.8"
|-
| Moon Right Ascension
| 12h53m09.4s
|-
| Moon Declination
| -05°57'04.2"
|-
| Moon Semi-Diameter
| 15'33.9"
|-
| Moon Equatorial Horizontal Parallax
| 0°57'07.5"
|-
| ΔT
| 61.8 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 April 1996
! [[April 1996 lunar eclipse|April 4]] Ascending node (full moon) !! [[Solar eclipse of April 17, 1996|April 17]] Descending node (new moon) 
|-
| [[File:Lunar eclipse chart close-1996Apr04.png|200px]] || [[File:SE1996Apr17P.png|200px]]
|- align=center
| [[Lunar eclipse#Types of lunar eclipse|Total lunar eclipse]] Lunar Saros 122 || [[Total eclipse#Types|Partial solar eclipse]] Solar Saros 148
|}

== Related eclipses ==
=== Eclipses in 1996 ===
* '''A total lunar eclipse on April 4.'''
* [[Solar eclipse of April 17, 1996|A partial solar eclipse on April 17]].
* [[September 1996 lunar eclipse|A total lunar eclipse on September 27]].
* [[Solar eclipse of October 12, 1996|A partial solar eclipse on October 12]].

=== Metonic ===
* Preceded by: [[June 1992 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of June 15, 1992]]
* Followed by: [[January 2000 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of January 21, 2000]]

=== Tzolkinex ===
* Preceded by: [[February 1989 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of February 20, 1989]]
* Followed by: [[May 2003 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of May 16, 2003]]

=== Half-Saros ===
* Preceded by: [[Solar eclipse of March 29, 1987]]
* Followed by: [[Solar eclipse of April 8, 2005]]

=== Tritos ===
* Preceded by: [[May 1985 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of May 4, 1985]]
* Followed by: [[March 2007 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of March 3, 2007]]

=== Lunar Saros 122 ===
* Preceded by: [[March 1978 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of March 24, 1978]]
* Followed by: [[April 2014 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014]]

=== Inex ===
* Preceded by: [[April 1967 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of April 24, 1967]]
* Followed by: [[March 2025 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025]]

=== Triad ===
* Preceded by: [[June 1909 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of June 4, 1909]]
* Followed by: [[February 2083 lunar eclipse|Lunar eclipse of February 2, 2083]]

=== Lunar eclipses of 1995–1998 ===
{{Lunar eclipse set 1995-1998}}

=== Saros 122 ===
{{Lunar Saros series 122}}

=== Tritos series ===
{{Lunar Tritos series March 2007}}

=== Inex series ===
{{Lunar Inex series March 2025}}

=== 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 hybrid solar eclipses of [[Solar Saros 129]].
{| class=wikitable
![[Solar eclipse of March 29, 1987|March 29, 1987]]
![[Solar eclipse of April 8, 2005|April 8, 2005]]
|-
|[[File:SE1987Mar29H.png|240px]]
|[[File:SE2005Apr08H.png|240px]]
|}

== See also ==
*[[List of lunar eclipses]]
*[[List of 20th-century lunar eclipses]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.hermit.org/eclipse/gen_stats.cgi?mode=query&page=full&qtype=type&body=L&saros=122 Saros cycle 122]
* [http://www.oarval.org/MEclpsen.htm Andrés Valencia: Total Lunar Eclipse - April 3 '96]
* {{LEplot1951 link|1996|Apr|04|T}}

{{Lunar eclipses}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lunar eclipse 1996-04}}
[[Category:20th-century lunar eclipses|1996-04]]
[[Category:1996 in science]]
[[Category:April 1996]]

April 1996 lunar eclipse - Revision history

2405:6E00:2640:D199:BCE0:73A5:BCC4:9085 at 17:33, 28 March 2025