A total eclipse of the Moon occurred on Thursday 17 February, 1859 UT (5 Feb, 1859 Old Style), with maximum eclipse at 10:43 UT. A dramatic total eclipse lasting 1 hour and 37 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 32 minutes in total.
The penumbral eclipse lasted for 5 hours and 24 minutes.
The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours and 32 minutes.
The total eclipse lasted for 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Maximum eclipse was at 10:43:21 UT.
During this eclipse the Moon was just a day past perigee, making it very large.
At maximum eclipse it was 0.561° in apparent
diameter, which is 5.6% larger than average.
The statistics page has information on the ranges of the sizes of
the Sun and Moon, and the Moon data page displays detailed
information on the Moon's key dates.
Interactive Map
This map shows the visibility of the eclipse at maximum eclipse,
when it was visible within the bright area on the map. Note that
the map is approximate, and if you
were near the edge of the area of visibility, the moon was very close
to the horizon and may not have been practically visible.
You can use the zoom controls to zoom in and out, and pan to
see areas of interest. The green marker in the centre shows where
the Moon will be directly overhead at maximum eclipse.
The interactive map is currently not available.
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)
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 was the 46th eclipse in lunar Saros series 121.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:
This Saros series, lunar Saros series 121,
is linked to solar Saros series 128. The
nearest partner eclipses in that series are:
Eclipse Parameters
| UT Date/time (max) | 10:43:21 on 17 Feb UT |
TDT Date/time (max) | 10:43:28 on 17 Feb TDT |
| Saros Series | 121 |
Number in Series | 46 |
| Penumbral Magnitiude | 2.6727 |
Central Magnitiude | 1.6944 |
| Gamma | 0.095 |
Path Width (km) | |
| Delta T | 0m07s |
Error | ± 0m00s (95%) |
| Penumbral Duration | 5h24m |
Partial Duration | 3h32m |
| Total Duration | 1h37m |
| |
| Partial Rating | |
Total Rating | |
| Sun Distance | 147885590 km (16.4%) |
Moon Distance | 361257 km (9.7%) |
| Sun Diameter | 0.539° |
Moon Diameter | 0.551° - 0.561° |
| Perigee | 02:48 on 16 Feb UT |
Apogee | 04:48 on 28 Feb UT |
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)
are in the TDT timescale.
The Sun and Moon distances are shown in km, and as a
percentage of their minimum - maximum distances; hence 0%
is the closest possible (Earth's perihelion, or the
Moon's closest possible perigee) and 100% is
the farthest (aphelion, the farthest apogee).
The statistics page has information on the ranges of sizes
of the Sun and Moon, and the Moon data page displays detailed
information on the Moon's key dates.
Data last updated: 2015-06-21 22:11:46 UTC.
