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 ± 0m04s (with 95% confidence). This equates to an error in longitude of ± 0.019 degrees, or around ± 2.1 km (1.2 miles) at the latitude of greatest eclipse.

A total eclipse of the Moon occurred on Wednesday 31 January, 2018 UT, lasting from 10:51–16:08 UT. The Moon was plunged into darkness for 1 hour and 16 minutes, in a deep total eclipse which saw the Moon 32% of its diameter inside the Earth's umbral shadow. The visual effect of this depends on the state of the Earth's atmosphere, but the Moon may have been stained a deep red colour for observers from Asia, Australia, and North America. The partial eclipse lasted for 3 hours and 23 minutes in total.

The timings of the phases of the eclipse are as follows. You would have been able to see each phase of the eclipse if the Moon was up at the corresponding time as seen from your location; however the penumbral phase would have been very difficult to see in practice:

Penumbral eclipse began: 10:51:15 UT
Partial eclipse began: 11:48:27 UT
Total eclipse began: 12:51:47 UT
Maximum eclipse: 13:29:50 UT
Total eclipse ended: 14:07:51 UT
Partial eclipse ended: 15:11:11 UT
Penumbral eclipse ended: 16:08:27 UT

During this eclipse the Moon was just a day past perigee, making it very large. At maximum eclipse it was 0.562° in apparent diameter, which is 5.9% 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 various stages. The bright area in the middle saw the whole eclipse; the coloured bands to the right saw the start of the eclipse, and those on the left saw the end. 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. Hover your mouse over the tags to see what was visible from each area on the map. The green marker in the centre shows where the Moon was 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 49th eclipse in lunar Saros series 124.The surrounding eclipses in this Saros series are:

This Saros series, lunar Saros series 124, is linked to solar Saros series 131. The nearest partner eclipses in that series are:

Eclipse Parameters

UT Date/time (max) 13:29:49 on 31 Jan UT TDT Date/time (max) 13:31:00 on 31 Jan TDT
Saros Series 124 Number in Series 49
Penumbral Magnitiude 2.2941 Central Magnitiude 1.3155
Gamma -0.3014 Path Width (km)
Delta T 1m11s Error ± 0m04s (95%)
Penumbral Duration 5h17m Partial Duration 3h23m
Total Duration 1h16m
Partial Rating Total Rating
Sun Distance 147389564 km (6.1%) Moon Distance 360203 km (7.6%)
Sun Diameter 0.541° Moon Diameter 0.553° - 0.562°
Perigee 09:54 on 30 Jan UT Apogee 14:16 on 11 Feb UT
Contact p1 10:51:15 on 31 Jan UT Contact p2
Contact u1 11:48:27 on 31 Jan UT Contact u2 12:51:47 on 31 Jan UT
Max eclipse 13:29:50 on 31 Jan UT
Contact u3 14:07:51 on 31 Jan UT Contact u4 15:11:11 on 31 Jan UT
Contact p3 Contact p4 16:08:27 on 31 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.