Aug 5 – Aug 6, 2009 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs on August 6, 2009. It is the third of four lunar eclipses during the year. The eclipse lasts for about three hours.
What this lunar eclipse looks like
The animation shows approximately what the eclipse looks like from the night side of earth.
BETA: This is a temporary animation, it would look different in real life. We hope to fix that issue soon.
Stages in eclipse
- Penumbral Eclipse just started
- Penumbral Eclipse in good progress
- Maximum Eclipse
- Penumbral Eclipse continues
- Penumbral Eclipse about to end
Click the 'play' button to view the animation. The pause button can also be used to temporarily suspend the animation.
The animation shows where this penumbral solar eclipse is visible during the night (dark “wave” slowly moving across the Earth's surface).
The night (dark) areas in the animation are approximately those that can see the moon, and therefore also the eclipse.

Legend
Intense red shading: Observers within this area can see the eclipse from beginning to end.
Red shading right/east of intense shading: Observers within this area can see the eclipse until moonset/sunrise.
Red shading left/west of intense shading: Observers within this area can see the eclipse after moonrise/sunset.
No coloring: Eclipse is not visible at all
Note: Actual eclipse visibility depends on weather conditions and line of sight to the Moon.
Note that since it is a penumbral eclipse, it can be hard to see, as the moon will only be a bit fainter.
Where to see the eclipse
Continents seeing at least some parts of the eclipse:
- Parts of Europe
- West in Asia
- Africa
- East in North America
- Much of South America
Partial eclipse visible in...
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Guam (Hagåtña), Guam
- Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Beijing, China
- Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Anadyr, Russia
- Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.A.
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Suva, Fiji
- Chatham Islands, Chatham Islands, New Zealand
- Adak, Alaska, U.S.A.
- Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A.
- Carson City, Nevada, U.S.A.
- Boise, Idaho, U.S.A.
When the eclipse happens worldwide
Lunar eclipses look approximately the same all over the world and happen at the same time.The times displayed might be a minute or two off actual times.
| Event | UTC Time | Time in Washington DC* | Visible in Washington DC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penumbral Eclipse begins | Aug 5 at 11:07 PM | Aug 5 at 7:07 PM | No, under horizon |
| Maximum Eclipse | Aug 6 at 12:39 AM | Aug 5 at 8:39 PM | Yes |
| Penumbral Eclipse ends | Aug 6 at 2:11 AM | Aug 5 at 10:11 PM | Yes |
* The Moon is under the horizon in Washington DC some of the time, so that part of the eclipse is not visible.
Eclipses during year 2009
- Jan 26, 2009 Annular Solar Eclipse
- Feb 9, 2009 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
- Jul 7, 2009 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
- Jul 21 – Jul 22, 2009 Total Solar Eclipse
- Aug 5 – Aug 6, 2009 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (Currently shown)
- Dec 31, 2009 Partial Lunar Eclipse
