Lunar Eclipses 2020 to 2045

Lunar Eclipse Types

There are three main types of eclipses of the moon, all are the result of the Earth casting a shadow across all or part of the full moon. However, not all eclipses are equal, and this depends on both how much and what part of the Earth's shadow is cast across the moon. The cause of the eclipse is always the same though; when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in alignment.

Penumbral Eclipse

Probably the least impressive kind of lunar eclipse this is where the outer part of the earth's shadow (the penumbra) covers the moon. The overall effect is somewhat subtle, and if you don't know it is in progress you may well miss it.

Partial Eclipse

As the name suggests a partial lunar eclipse occurs when only part of the moon's face is thrown into shadow. Unlike the penumbral eclipse the noticeable part of the shadow is formed by the umbra - the central part of the Earth's shadow. As partial eclipses proceed you will see the shadow growing across the face of the Moon before receding. How much of the Moon the shadow covers depends on the magnitude of the eclipse.

Total Eclipse

When a perfect alignment of the Sun, Earth and Moon occurs the conditions for a total lunar eclipse are set. In these most impressive eclipses the moon is completely covered by the central part of the Earth's shadow (the umbra). Not only does the whole Moon become darker as the shadow creeps across its face but it takes on an orange or red hue. For this reason this event is also knowns as a Blood Moon, not that there is anything sinister about it - it's just the Sun's light being diffused and flitered through Earth's atmosphere that causes the red tint.

Lunar Eclipse Calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2020						5th Jun	5th Jul				30th Nov
2021					26th May						19th Nov
2022					16th May						8th Nov
2023					5th May					28th Oct
2024			25th Mar						18th Sep
2025			14th Mar						7th Sep
2026			3rd Mar					28th Aug
2027		20th Feb					18th Jul	17th Aug
2028	12th Jan						6th Jul					31st Dec
2029						26th Jun						20th Dec
2030						15th Jun						9th Dec
2031					7th May	5th Jun				30th Oct
2032				25th Apr						18th Oct
2033				14th Apr						8th Oct
2034				3rd Apr					28th Sep
2035		22nd Feb						19th Aug
2036		11th Feb						7th Aug
2037	31st Jan						27th Jul
2038	21st Jan					17th Jun	16th Jul					11th Dec
2039						6th Jun					30th Nov
2040					26th May						18th Nov
2041					16th May						8th Nov
2042				5th Apr					29th Sep
2043			25th Mar						19th Sep
2044			13th Mar						7th Sep
2045			3rd Mar					27th Aug