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Last month’s lunar eclipse

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Chris Comfort

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Deborah Byrd

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May 7, 2013

Penumbral lunar eclipse on April 25, 2013 — The April 25-26, 2013 lunar eclipse was a complete penumbral eclipse – and a very brief partial eclipse. Photograph by Stanislaus Ronny Terrance.

The eclipse of April 25-26, 2013 featured a very brief partial eclipse of the moon, as shown on the photo above. See how the top part of the moon appears darkened for part of the eclipse? As seen from parts of Earth (but not North or South America), Earth’s dark umbral shadow barely clipped the full moon for 27 minutes, causing this third-shortest partial lunar eclipse in the 21st century. Before and after the partial eclipse, there was a deep penumbral eclipse of the moon.

There are two more lunar eclipses later this year, but both are penumbral only. During the April 25-26 eclipse, Earth’s dark umbral shadow was located mostly to one side of the moon, as shown in the photo above. That was the last time Earth’s umbral shadow will touch the moon’s face until the total lunar eclipse of April 15, 2014.

See it! More photos of April 25-26 penumbral lunar eclipse

Next eclipse: Ring of fire annular eclipse of sun May 9-10, 2013

Are lunar eclipses more common than solar eclipses?

Earth's shadow has two parts: a dark inner umbra and lighter surrounding penumbra. When Earth's penumbral shadow falls on the moon, it creates a very subtle eclipse - a shading on the moon's surface. When the darker umbral shadow falls on the moon, it appears as if a — Earth’s shadow has two parts: a dark inner umbra and lighter surrounding penumbra. When Earth’s penumbral shadow falls on the moon, it creates a very subtle eclipse, the barest shading of the moon’s surface. When the darker umbral shadow falls on the moon, it appears as if a “bite” has been taken from the moon’s face. Illustration via astro.washington.edu

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May 7, 2013

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Chris Comfort

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About the Author:

Chris Comfort, Technology Manager, oversees EarthSky's systems and infrastructure, and the development and maintenance of EarthSky.org. He loves working with a company dedicated to nature and science. His favorite thing about EarthSky? The wonderful images of nature coming in from EarthSky's global photographic community.

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.