August 2007 lunar eclipse

August 2007 lunar eclipse
Total eclipse
The eclipse as viewed from Wollongong, Australia at 9:48 UTC, shortly before totality
DateAugust 28, 2007
Gamma−0.2145
Magnitude1.4777
Saros cycle128 (40 of 71)
Totality90 minutes, 1 second
Partiality212 minutes, 12 seconds
Penumbral327 minutes, 17 seconds
Contacts (UTC)
P17:53:40
U18:51:16
U29:52:21
Greatest10:37:21
U311:22:22
U412:23:28
P413:20:57

A total lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s ascending node of orbit on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, with an umbral magnitude of 1.4777. 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 30, 2007, at 20:10 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was larger.

This was the most recent central lunar eclipse of Saros series 128 as well as the "longest and deepest lunar eclipse to be seen in 7 years". In the total lunar eclipse of July 16, 2000 the moon passed within two arc minutes of the center of the Earth's shadow. In comparison, this still very deep eclipse was off-center by over 12 minutes of arc. The next total lunar eclipse of a longer duration was on June 15, 2011.