A partial lunar eclipse visible from Hong Kong between 3.35am and 4.54am on October 29. The eclipse, which will be 1 hour and 29 minutes long, will be the last of its kind visible in the city for the next two years.
According to the Hong Kong Science Museum, the eclipse will reach its maximum at 4.14 am, when more than 12% of the Moon’s diameter will enter the Earth’s umbra. The altitude of the moon during the eclipse will be between 20 and 40 degrees, making it visible from all districts of the city.
A partial lunar eclipse occurs when a portion of the Moon passes through the Earth’s umbral shadow. A total lunar eclipse takes place when the Moon enters the Earth’s umbra completely.
The Hong Kong Space Museum says that anyone interested in viewing the eclipse should head to a spot with unobstructed and wide west-facing views, such as waterfront promenades and parks. The museum will also have a live webcast of the event from 2am-5am on October 29.
Hong Kong most recently had a partial lunar eclipse on May 5, 2023, and a total lunar eclipse on November 8, 2022. The next lunar eclipse that will be visible in the SAR will be a total lunar eclipse on September 7, 2025, which will be followed by another on March 3, 2026. There will be an annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, but that will not be visible in Hong Kong.
There will be two more commonly viewed astronomical events in Hong Kong on October 29: a full moon, and Jupiter in conjunction with the Moon — when Jupiter and the Moon pass very close to each other, as seen from the Earth.
Header image credits: makasana via Canva
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