                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

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                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2026 March 7

                          Two Eclipses of Saros 133
    Image Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel (TWAN), Petr Horalek / Institute
              of Physics in Opava / KPNO / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA

   Explanation: Centered on maximum eclipse, these two total lunar eclipse
   sequences look almost identical. Yet the one shown on top is composed
   of images recorded in February 2008, while at the bottom is the recent
   March 2026 total eclipse of the Moon. Why are they so similar? Because
   these two total lunar eclipses are from the same Saros cycle. The Saros
   cycle was discovered historically from observations of the Moon's
   orbit. With a period of 18 years, 11 and 1/3 days, the cycle predicts
   when the Sun, Earth, and Moon all return to the same relative geometry
   for a lunar (or solar) eclipse. Eclipses separated by one Saros period
   belong to the same numbered Saros series, in this case Saros 133. So
   expect the next lunar eclipse in Saros 133 to be a repeat of this
   year's March 3 eclipse. You can watch the next Saros 133 total lunar
   eclipse on March 13, 2044.

               Growing Gallery: Total Lunar Eclipse of March 3
                  Tomorrow's picture: aurora arbor borealis
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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