August 2008 lunar eclipse

Partial lunar eclipse 2008/8/16 [1]
Saros (member)	138 (29)
Recent	<S <T < > T> S>
Cape Town, South Africa
240px The moon passes right to left through the earth's northern shadow
Gamma^[1]	0.5647
Duration (hr:mn:sc)
Partial	3:08:54
Penumbral	5:33:58
Contacts
P1	18:23:07 UTC
U1	19:35:45 UTC
Greatest	21:40:03 UTC
U4	22:44:38 UTC
P4	23:57:06 UTC
240px At ascending node in Capricornus

A partial lunar eclipse took place on August 16, 2008, the second of two lunar eclipses in 2008, with the first being a total eclipse on February 20, 2008. The next lunar eclipse was a penumbral eclipse occurring on February 9, 2009, while the next total lunar eclipse will occur on December 21, 2010.

Viewing

400px These simulated views of the earth from the center of the moon during the lunar eclipse show where the eclipse is visible on earth.

Parts of Australia saw it begin before sunrise, while parts of South America saw it end just after sunset. The eclipse is also seen in the Philippines and other parts of Asia at moonset. Parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa saw it when it is visible.

The penumbral eclipse began at 18:23 UTC, with the partial eclipse beginning at 19:36. The time of greatest eclipse was 21:10. The partial eclipse ended at 22:44, and the penumbral eclipse will ended at 23:57.

The planet Neptune was 2 days past opposition, visible in binoculars as an 8th magnitude "star" just two degrees west and slightly south of the moon.

Map

480px

Relation to other lunar eclipses

Lunar year series

Lunar eclipse series sets from 2006–2009
Descending node			Ascending node
Saros # and photo	Date Viewing	Type Chart	Saros # and photo	Date Viewing	Type Chart
113 80px	2006 Mar 14 80px	penumbral 80px	118 80px	2006 Sep 7 80px	partial 80px
123	2007 Mar 03 80px	total 80px	128	2007 Aug 28	total
133	2008 Feb 21 80px	total 80px	138	2008 Aug 16 80px	partial 80px
143 80px	2009 Feb 9 80px	penumbral 80px	148 80px	2009 Aug 06 80px	penumbral 80px

Last set	2005 Apr 24		Last set	2005 Oct 17

Next set	2009 Dec 31		Next set	2009 Jul 07

Saros series

Lunar saros series 138 has 19 total eclipses between September 7, 2044 and June 8, 2495. The longest eclipse will be on January 7, 2243, and last for 102 minutes.

Partial eclipses will occur between June 13, 1900 and August 13, 2603. Penumbral eclipses will occur between October 5, 1503 and March 30, 2982. ^[2]

Metonic cycle (19 years)

The Metonic cycle repeats nearly exactly every 19 years and represents a Saros cycle plus one lunar year. Because it occurs on the same calendar date, the earth's shadow will in nearly the same location relative to the background stars.

Metonic lunar eclipse sets 1951–2027
Descending node			Ascending node
Saros	Date	Type	Saros	Date	Type
103	1951 Feb 21	Penumbral	108	1951 Aug 17	Penumbral
240px			240px
113	1970 Feb 21	Partial	118	1970 Aug 17	Partial
240px			240px
123	1989 Feb 20	Total	128	1989 Aug 17	Total
240px			240px
133	2008 Feb 21	Total	138	2008 Aug 16	Partial
240px			240px
143	2027 Feb 20	Penumbral	148	2027 Aug 17	Penumbral
240px			240px