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 a whopping 106 minutes 25 seconds, it was the longest not only of the 20th century, but the longest since August 13th 1859 (which was 106 minutes 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 & center of Earth's umbra). It won't be surpassed in duration until August 19th 4753 (for 106 minutes 35 seconds or 10 seconds longer than this). This was also the longest of the 2nd millennium & the 8th longest between 3000 BCE & 3000 AD (in which the longest was in May 31st 318 for a whopping total of 106 minutes 36 seconds or just 11 seconds longer than this). Partiality lasted 236 minutes 2 seconds & penumbrality (where a body like the Moon is within the outer shadow, or penumbra) lasted 374 minutes 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 & all of Australia (given the weather conditions). Like I said, we won't have another like this until 4753 (in duration though we will have a nearly perfectly central eclipse (at magnitude 1.84362 or 84.362% of the Moon's diameter between the edge & center of Earth's umbra) on June 26th 2029 (visible in nearly all of North America & all of South America as well as West Africa) if only the weather conditions cooperate (though it'll be 101 minutes 53 seconds totally, 219 minutes 32 seconds partially & 335 minutes 8 seconds penumbrally) due to its closer distance to us & 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 27th 2018 which was a magnitude 1.6087 & was 102 minutes 57 seconds, making it the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century & that was also visible on the Eastern hemisphere.
It was the longest since July 16th 2000 (at 90 minutes 1 second) as the Moon was just 12 arcminutes off the center of Earth's umbra (giving it a magnitude of 1.481). Yet it was the 2nd of 2007 as the 1st occurred on March 3rd (which was only 73 minutes 21 seconds & missed the center of Earth's umbra). Visible from Europe, Africa & Asia during totality while the end of the last partial phase was visible from east of North America & practically all of South America. It was the 40th member of 71 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 128.
The 1st of 2000. Unlike the eclipse of July 16th, this was only 76 minutes 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 & a tiny bit of North Antarctica. It was the 48th of 74 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 124.
The 1st 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 2 seconds past an hour. It was visible in all of Europe, Africa & Asia as well as Greenland, the North Pole, west Australia & the Philippines & North Antarctica. Penumbrality lasted 311 minutes 2 seconds. It was the 26th member of 73 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 134. The next member happened on January 21st 2019 (which was only slightly deeper at magnitude 1.1953 & slightly longer at 61 minutes 59 seconds yet happened during the 1st supermoon of 2019 (in which the moon was near perigee or it's closest approach to Earth) except that eclipse was visible from the Western Hemisphere including all of North & South America.
The last of 2004, just 3 days before Halloween, delivering a pre-Halloween treat to the world. It was the 1st to occur during a World Series game, for example, the Busch Memorial Stadium when the Boston Red Sox won their 1st World Series in 86 years to end the Curse of the Bambino. Totality lasted 80 minutes 29 seconds while partiality lasted 218 minutes 41 seconds & penumbrality lasted 353 minutes 46 seconds. The Moon was 31.32% of its diameter between the edge & 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 & Asia as well as 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 into 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 1st of 2004 & since it was May the 4th, it was on the day we celebrate Star Wars. As the Moon was 30.9% of it's diameter between the edge & center of Earth's umbra, the umbral magnitude was 1.309 & combined with its distance & speed, totality was 75 minutes 28 seconds while partiality was 203 minutes 12 seconds & penumbrality was 315 minutes 43 seconds. This was the 1st time a total lunar eclipse happened that day since 1985. 19 years later, there will be a penumbral eclipse on May the 5th (also known as Revenge of the 5th). Unfortunately it wasn't visible from any of the Americas, though it was visible in Europe as well as Africa, Madagascar, Asia, the Philippines, Australia & 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 1st total lunar eclipse of the 21st century as well as the 2nd of the 2000's lunar tetrad, though it happened when the Moon approached apogee & therefore it was a micromoon (since it looked unusually small due to its distance). At 21 minutes 58 seconds, this was the shortest total lunar eclipse of the 2000's (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 certainly visible in much of North America & all of South America as well as Greenland, the North Pole, Europe, Africa, Madagascar, most of Asia & north Antarctica. It was the last total eclipse & 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 19th 2021, with ~97.42% of our Moon covered (giving it a magnitude of 0.9742), which was the longest partial lunar eclipse between February 18th 1440 & February 8th 2669.
The 1st of 2003 as well as the 1st of the lunar tetrad of the 2000's. Unlike November 9th's, this was much longer as the Moon was deeper within Earth's umbra. Totality lasted 51 minutes 25 seconds (which's shorter than an hour but much longer than 21 minutes 58 seconds) & the umbral magnitude was 1.1345 (as the Moon was 13.45% of its diameter between the edge & center of Earth's umbra). It was visible from most of North America as well as all of South America & most of Antarctica. It was also visible in East Europe & Africa as well as South Greenland.
The 1st of 2007. The Moon was 23.28% of its diameter between the edge & center of Earth's umbra (hence a magnitude of 1.2328) & totality lasted 73 minutes 21 seconds. It was visible in pretty much every continent except for Australia & was the 57th member of 73 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 123.
It was the 1st of 2 lunar eclipses in 2008 (the other being partial on August 16th 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 & center of Earth's umbra). Totality lasted 49 minutes 45 seconds, though partiality lasted 205 minutes 28 seconds & penumbrality lasted 339 minutes 3 seconds. It was the 26th member of 71 lunar eclipses in Lunar Saros 133 (when the next member will occur on March 3rd 2026 & will also be total).