Timezone / Date

You have not selected a timezone for eclipse timings, so all times are shown in UT (essentially GMT).

Accuracy

Due to the erratic rotation of the Earth, the time and location of the eclipse cannot be forecast perfectly. This eclipse's time is estimated to be accurate ± 1h27m (with 95% confidence). This equates to an error in longitude of ± 21 degrees, or around ± 2237 km (1390 miles) at the latitude of greatest eclipse.

A total eclipse of the Moon occurred on 16 December, 1731 BC UT Old Style, with maximum eclipse at 20:04 UT. A dramatic total eclipse lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes plunged the full Moon into deep darkness, as it passed right through the centre of the Earth's umbral shadow. While the visual effect of a total eclipse is variable, the Moon may have been stained a deep orange or red colour at maximum eclipse. This was a great spectacle for everyone who saw it. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours and 55 minutes in total.

The penumbral eclipse lasted for 6 hours and 19 minutes. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours and 55 minutes. The total eclipse lasted for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Maximum eclipse was at 20:04:09 UT.

Overview Map

This map sourced from NASA Goddard Space flight Center: GSFC Eclipse Web SiteGSFC Eclipse Web Site
The primary source of all the information on eclipses presented here at Hermit Eclipse. (NASA Goddard Space flight Center)
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html shows the visibility of the eclipse. (Click on it for the full-sized version.)

Eclipse Season and Saros Series

This eclipse season contains 3 eclipses:

This eclipse belongs to lunar Saros series 7.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, lunar Saros series 7, is linked to solar Saros series 14. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 20:04:09 on 16 Dec UT TDT Date/time (max) 07:12:40 on 17 Dec TDT
Saros Series 7 Number in Series
Penumbral Magnitiude 2.8384 Central Magnitiude 1.7338
Gamma 0.0394 Path Width (km)
Delta T 11h09m Error ± 1h27m (95%)
Penumbral Duration 6h19m Partial Duration 3h55m
Total Duration 1h45m
Partial Rating Total Rating

Note that while all dates and times on this site (except where noted) are in UT, which is within a second of civil time, the dates and times shown in NASA's eclipse listingsGSFC Eclipse Web Site
The primary source of all the information on eclipses presented here at Hermit Eclipse. (NASA Goddard Space flight Center)
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html are in the TDT timescale. For this eclipse, this makes the date shown on this site different to NASA's date.

Data last updated: 2015-06-21 22:11:38 UTC.