Editing Lunar eclipse (section)

== Timing ==
[[File:Lunar eclipse contact diagram.svg|thumb|Contact points relative to the Earth's umbral and penumbral shadows, here with the Moon near is descending node]]
The timing of total lunar eclipses is determined by what are known as its "contacts" (moments of contact with Earth's shadow):<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Kevin|title=On the nature of eclipses|url=http://www.inconstantmoon.com/cyc_ecl1.htm|work=Inconstant Moon|publisher=Cyclopedia Selenica|access-date=19 December 2010}}</ref>

* ''P1'' (''First contact''): Beginning of the penumbral eclipse. Earth's penumbra touches the Moon's outer limb.
* ''U1'' (''Second contact''): Beginning of the partial eclipse. Earth's umbra touches the Moon's outer limb.
* ''U2'' (''Third contact''): Beginning of the total eclipse. The Moon's surface is entirely within Earth's umbra.
* ''Greatest eclipse'': The peak stage of the total eclipse. The Moon is at its closest to the center of Earth's umbra.
* U3 (''Fourth contact''): End of the total eclipse. The Moon's outer limb exits Earth's umbra.
* ''U4'' (''Fifth contact''): End of the partial eclipse. Earth's umbra leaves the Moon's surface.
* ''P4'' (''Sixth contact''): End of the penumbral eclipse. Earth's penumbra no longer makes contact with the Moon.