August 2008 lunar eclipse
A partial lunar eclipse took place on 16 August 2008, the second of two lunar eclipses in 2008, with the first being a total eclipse on 20 February 2008. The next lunar eclipse was a penumbral eclipse occurring on 9 February 2009, while the next total lunar eclipse occurred on 21 December 2010. The moon's apparent diameter was 26.2 arcseconds smaller than the 21 February 2008 total lunar eclipse. Eclipse Season. This is the second eclipse this season. First eclipse this season: 1 August 2008 Total Solar Eclipse Viewing. Parts of Australia saw it begin  before sunrise, while parts of South America saw it end just after sunset. The eclipse is also seen in the Philippines and other parts of Asia at moonset. Parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa saw it when it is visible. The penumbral eclipse began at 18:23 UTC, with the partial eclipse beginning at 19:36. The time of greatest eclipse was 21:10. The partial eclipse ended at 22:44, and the penumbral eclipse will ended at 23:57. The planet Neptune was 2 days past opposition, visible in binoculars as an 8th magnitude "star" just two degrees west and slightly south  of the moon. Relation to other lunar eclipses. Half-Saros cycle. A lunar eclipse will be preceded and followed by solar eclipses by 9 years and 5.5 days (a half saros). This lunar eclipse is related to two total solar eclipses of Solar Saros 145. Photo. <BR>Progression from Oslo, Norway