August 1989 lunar eclipse|
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| Date | August 17, 1989 |
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| Gamma | −0.1491 |
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| Magnitude | 1.5984 |
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| Saros cycle | 128 (39 of 71) |
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| Totality | 95 minutes, 48 seconds |
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| Partiality | 214 minutes, 17 seconds |
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| Penumbral | 327 minutes, 31 seconds |
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| Contacts (UTC) |
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| P1 | 0:24:22 |
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| U1 | 1:21:03 |
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| U2 | 2:20:17 |
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| Greatest | 3:08:11 |
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| U3 | 3:56:05 |
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| U4 | 4:55:20 |
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| P4 | 5:51:54 |
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A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Thursday, August 17, 1989, with an umbral magnitude of 1.5984. It was a central lunar eclipse, in which part of the Moon passed through the center of the Earth's shadow. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon's near side entirely passes into the Earth's umbral shadow. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the Moon's shadow is smaller. Occurring about 2.4 days before perigee (on August 19, 1989, at 13:30 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.