|
Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel
(TWAN),
Petr Horalek /
Institute of Physics in Opava
/ KPNO / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA
Explanation:
Centered on maximum eclipse,
these two total lunar eclipse sequences look almost identical.
Yet the one shown on top is composed of images recorded in
February 2008, while at the bottom is the recent
March 2026 total eclipse
of the Moon.
Why are they so similar?
Because these two total lunar eclipses are from the same Saros cycle.
The Saros cycle
was discovered
historically
from observations of the Moon's orbit.
With a period of 18 years, 11 and 1/3 days,
the cycle predicts when the Sun, Earth,
and Moon all return to the same relative
geometry for a lunar
(or solar) eclipse.
Eclipses separated by one Saros period belong to
the same numbered Saros series, in this case Saros 133.
So expect the next
lunar eclipse in Saros 133 to be
a repeat of this year's March 3 eclipse.
You can watch the next Saros 133 total lunar eclipse on
March 13, 2044.
Growing Gallery:
Total Lunar Eclipse of March 3
|
January February March |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: lunar eclipse
Publications with words: lunar eclipse
See also: