A penumbral lunar eclipse occurred at the Moon’s descending node of orbit on Thursday, March 3, 1988,[1] with an umbral magnitude of −0.0016.

A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when part or all of the Moon's near side passes into the Earth's penumbra.

Occurring about 2.2 days after apogee (on March 1, 1988, at 11:50 UTC), the Moon's apparent diameter was smaller.

[3] The eclipse was completely visible over most of Asia and Australia, seen rising over much of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East and setting over western North America and the central Pacific Ocean.

Because it occurs on the same calendar date, the Earth's shadow will be in nearly the same location relative to the background stars.