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An eclipse occurs whenever the Sun, Earth and Moon line up exactly. If this occurrence is at the time of a full moon where the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, it is called a lunar eclipse. The type and length of lunar eclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital node.

1 Types of lunar eclipses

A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon only passes through the Earth's penumbra, the outer portion of the Earth's shadow. The penumbra does not cause a noticeable darkening of the Moon's surface.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's umbra, the dark inner portion of the shadow. The Moon's speed through the shadow is about one kilometer per second, and the total eclipse may last up to 102 minutes. However, the time between the Moon's first contact with the umbra and last contact, when it has completely exited the umbra, may be several hours. If only part of the Moon enters the umbra, it is called a partial lunar eclipse.

The Moon doesn't completely disappear as it passes through the umbra because of the refraction of sunlight by the Earth's atmosphere. The amount of refracted light depends on the amount of clouds or dust in the atmosphere blocking the light. This causes the Moon to glow with a coppery-red hue that varies from one eclipse to the next. The following scale was devised by Andrè Danjon for rating the overall darkness of lunar eclipses:

0. Very dark eclipse; Moon almost invisible, especially in midtonality

1. Dark eclipse; gray or brownish coloration; details distinguishable only with difficulty

2. Deep red or rust-colored eclipse, with a very dark central part in the umbra and the outer rim of the umbra relatively bright

3. Brick-red eclipse, usually with a bright or yellow rim to the umbra

4. Very bright copper-red or orange eclipse, with a bluish, very bright umbral rim

Because the Moon's orbit around the Earth is inclined 5° with respect to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, lunar eclipses do not occur at every full moon. For an eclipse to occur, the Moon must be near its orbital node—the intersection of the orbital planes. Passing through the shadow at or very close to the node results in a total or partial eclipse.

Every year there are at least two lunar eclipses. If you know the date and time of an eclipse, you can predict the occurrence of other eclipses using eclipse cycles. Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed in a certain relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth. If you were on the Moon's surface during a lunar eclipse you would witness a solar eclipseFor Solar Eclipse the alien friend of the rubber doll Betty Spaghetty, see Betty Spaghetty Zambia 2001 eclipse A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are on a single line with the Moon in the middle. Seen from the Earth, the Moon is in front, with the Earth passing in front of the Sun.

2 Lunar eclipses in 2003

There were two total lunar eclipses in 2003. The May eclipse grazed the northern edge of the earth's shadow, while the November eclipse grazed the southern edge.

All the light visible inside the umbral shadow is from light that is refracted around the earth's atmosphere. The color and darkness of the eclipse depends on clouds and other factors of the atmosphere.

These images show the May eclipse was much darker than the one in November.

3 Expected lunar eclipses 2003-2005

Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA (established 1958) is the government agency responsible for the United States of America's space program and long-term general aerospace research. A civilian organization, it conducts (or oversees) re
Date	Type	Where Visible	Expected Duration
November 9November 9 is the 313th day of the year (314th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 52 days remaining. Events 694 Hispano-Visigothic king Egica accuses Jews of aiding Moslems, and sentences all Jews to slavery. 1282 Pope Martin IV excommunicates, 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U	Total	Americas, Europe, Africa, central Asia	24 min
May 4May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). There are 241 days remaining. Events 1471 Wars of the Roses: The Battle of Tewkesbury Edward IV defeats a Lancastrian Army and kills Edward, Prince of Wales. 1493 Pope Ale, 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co	Total	South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia	1 h 16 min
October 27October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. Events 625 Honorius I becomes Pope. 1644 Second Battle of Newbury in the English Civil War. 1795 The United States and Spain sign the Treaty o-28, 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co	Total	Americas, Europe, Africa, central Asia	1 h 21 min
April 24, 2005	Penumbral	Americas, Australia, Pacific, Eastern Asia	4 h 10 min (duration of eclipse)
October 17, 2005	Partial	Canada, Australia, Pacific, Asia	58 min (duration of partial eclipse)

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Topics: Lunar Eclipse Moon Umbra Eclipses Moon's Shadow Earth Total...

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