A total eclipse of the Moon occurred on Monday 17 January, 1870 UT (5 Jan, 1870 Old Style), with maximum eclipse at 14:46 UT. A dramatic total eclipse lasting 1 hour and 38 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 39 minutes in total.

The penumbral eclipse lasted for 5 hours and 41 minutes. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours and 39 minutes. The total eclipse lasted for 1 hour and 38 minutes. Maximum eclipse was at 14:46:32 UT.

During this eclipse the Moon was just 4 days before perigee, making it relatively large. At maximum eclipse it was 0.539° in apparent diameter, which is 1.5% 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)
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 2 eclipses:

This was the 48th eclipse in lunar Saros series 122.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, lunar Saros series 122, is linked to solar Saros series 129. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 14:46:32 on 17 Jan UT TDT Date/time (max) 14:46:33 on 17 Jan TDT
Saros Series 122 Number in Series 48
Penumbral Magnitiude 2.6789 Central Magnitiude 1.6566
Gamma -0.1037 Path Width (km)
Delta T 0m01s Error ± 0m00s (95%)
Penumbral Duration 5h41m Partial Duration 3h39m
Total Duration 1h38m
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 147191272 km (2.0%) Moon Distance 375721 km (38.4%)
Sun Diameter 0.542° Moon Diameter 0.530° - 0.539°
Apogee 12:17 on 9 Jan UT Perigee 13:53 on 21 Jan 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)
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html
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.