Top 10 Lunar Eclipses of the 2000s
The 2000s had impressive eclipses of the Moon you won't ever forget witnessing or learning about. Lunar eclipses happen at a similar rate to solar eclipses, but you're much more likely to witness them in your lifetime (since they're visible anywhere on the nightside of Earth in good weather whereas total solar eclipses only happen on narrow paths). The Moon doesn't disappear when Earth blocks the Sun, since our atmosphere projects residual sunlight toward the Moon. Since blue light is refracted more than red light, the red light is still able to make it onto the Moon (hence the Moon looks reddish, given the name Blood Moon).At 106 minutes and 25 seconds, it was the longest not only of the 20th century but the longest since August 13, 1859 (which was 106 minutes and 28 seconds). The Moon crossed near the center of Earth's shadow (as in the umbra), giving the eclipse an umbral magnitude of 1.7684 (76.84% of the Moon's diameter between the edge and center of Earth's umbra).
It won't be surpassed in duration until August 19, 4753 (for 106 minutes and 35 seconds or 10 seconds longer than this). This was also the longest of the 2nd millennium and the 8th longest between 3000 BCE and 3000 AD (in which the longest was on May 31, 318 for a total of 106 minutes and 36 seconds, just 11 seconds longer than this).
Partiality lasted 236 minutes and 2 seconds, and penumbrality (where a body like the Moon is within the outer shadow, or penumbra) lasted 374 minutes and 31 seconds. Unfortunately, it wasn't visible from any of the Americas or Europe, as well as Africa, but it was visible from East Asia and all of Australia (given the weather conditions).
We won't have another like this until 4753. However, we will have a nearly perfectly central eclipse (at magnitude 1.84362 or 84.362% of the Moon's diameter between the edge and center of Earth's umbra) on June 26, 2029 (visible in nearly all of North America and all of South America as well as West Africa) if the weather conditions cooperate. Though it will be 101 minutes and 53 seconds in totality, 219 minutes and 32 seconds in partiality, and 335 minutes and 8 seconds in penumbrality due to its closer distance to us and its higher orbital speed in its elliptical orbit.
It was the 37th member of 71 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 129, with the next eclipse on July 27, 2018, which was a magnitude of 1.6087 and was 102 minutes and 57 seconds, making it the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century and visible in the Eastern hemisphere.
It was the longest since July 16, 2000 (at 90 minutes and 1 second) as the Moon was just 12 arcminutes off the center of Earth's umbra (giving it a magnitude of 1.481). It was the second of 2007 as the first occurred on March 3 (which was only 73 minutes and 21 seconds and missed the center of Earth's umbra).
It was visible from Europe, Africa, and Asia during totality while the end of the last partial phase was visible from eastern North America and practically all of South America. It was the 40th member of 71 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 128.
The first eclipse of 2000. Unlike the eclipse of July 16, this one lasted only 76 minutes and 59 seconds. It wasn't central (hence the magnitude was only 1.33).
It was visible in all of the Americas, as well as Greenland, the North Pole, West Africa, Europe, and a tiny bit of North Antarctica. It was the 48th of 74 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 124.
The first of 2001. Though the magnitude was 1.194 (since the Moon was 19.4% of its diameter in Earth's shadow), totality was 1 minute and 2 seconds past an hour. It was visible in all of Europe, Africa, and Asia as well as Greenland, the North Pole, western Australia, the Philippines, and North Antarctica. Penumbrality lasted 311 minutes and 2 seconds.
It was the 26th member of 73 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 134. The next member happened on January 21, 2019 (which was only slightly deeper at magnitude 1.1953 and slightly longer at 61 minutes and 59 seconds). It happened during the first supermoon of 2019 (in which the moon was near perigee or its closest approach to Earth), except that eclipse was visible from the Western Hemisphere, including all of North and South America.
The last of 2004, just 3 days before Halloween, delivering a pre-Halloween treat to the world. It was the first to occur during a World Series game, for example, at Busch Memorial Stadium when the Boston Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years to end the Curse of the Bambino.
Totality lasted 80 minutes and 29 seconds, while partiality lasted 218 minutes and 41 seconds, and penumbrality lasted 353 minutes and 46 seconds. The Moon was 31.32% of its diameter between the edge and center of Earth's umbra (hence an umbral magnitude of 1.3132). It was visible in all of the Americas as well as Greenland, Cuba, Europe, most of Africa and Asia, and North Antarctica.
It was just barely a central lunar eclipse as the Moon's south pole grazed the center of Earth's umbra. Yet it was just 5.6 days before the Moon made it to apogee (its farthest distance from us) in its orbit, so it looked unusually small from Earth. It was the 19th member of 72 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 136.
The first of 2004, and since it was May the 4th, it was on the day we celebrate Star Wars. As the Moon was 30.9% of its diameter between the edge and center of Earth's umbra, the umbral magnitude was 1.309. Combined with its distance and speed, totality was 75 minutes and 28 seconds while partiality was 203 minutes and 12 seconds, and penumbrality was 315 minutes and 43 seconds.
This was the first time a total lunar eclipse happened on that day since 1985. Nineteen years later, there will be a penumbral eclipse on May 5th (also known as Revenge of the 5th). Unfortunately, it wasn't visible from any of the Americas, though it was visible in Europe, Africa, Madagascar, Asia, the Philippines, Australia, and much of Antarctica (including the South Pole). May the 4th be with you. It was the 33rd member of 72 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 131.
This was important as it was the first total lunar eclipse of the 21st century and the second of the 2000's lunar tetrad. However, it happened when the Moon approached apogee and therefore it was a micromoon (since it looked unusually small due to its distance). At 21 minutes and 58 seconds, this was the shortest total lunar eclipse of the 2000s. Hence, there was only 1.78% of Earth's umbra outside the Moon, which was totally inside it, giving it a magnitude of only 1.0178.
It was visible in much of North America and all of South America as well as Greenland, the North Pole, Europe, Africa, Madagascar, most of Asia, and north Antarctica. It was the last total eclipse and 44th overall eclipse of 72 in Lunar Saros 126, in which the 43rd eclipse was a total eclipse at magnitude 1.0736. The 45th eclipse was a deep partial eclipse on November 19, 2021, with approximately 97.42% of our Moon covered (giving it a magnitude of 0.9742), which was the longest partial lunar eclipse between February 18, 1440, and February 8, 2669.
The first of 2003 and the first of the lunar tetrad of the 2000s. Unlike November 9th's, this was much longer as the Moon was deeper within Earth's umbra. Totality lasted 51 minutes and 25 seconds (which is shorter than an hour but much longer than 21 minutes and 58 seconds). The umbral magnitude was 1.1345 (as the Moon was 13.45% of its diameter between the edge and center of Earth's umbra).
It was visible from most of North America as well as all of South America and most of Antarctica. It was also visible in Eastern Europe and Africa as well as South Greenland.
The first eclipse of 2007. The Moon was 23.28% of its diameter between the edge and center of Earth's umbra (hence a magnitude of 1.2328). Totality lasted 73 minutes and 21 seconds.
It was visible on almost every continent except for Australia and was the 57th member of 73 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 123.
It was the first of two lunar eclipses in 2008 (the other being partial on August 16 with 81.2% of the Moon within Earth's umbra, hence a magnitude of 0.812). The magnitude of this eclipse was 1.10618 (since the Moon was 10.618% of its diameter between the edge and center of Earth's umbra). Totality lasted 49 minutes and 45 seconds, though partiality lasted 205 minutes and 28 seconds, and penumbrality lasted 339 minutes and 3 seconds.
It was the 26th member of 71 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 133 (when the next member will occur on March 3, 2026, and will also be total).