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A short-duration penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on October 19 (Saturday).
A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon only passes through the penumbra (partial shadow) of the earth without entering the umbra (total shadow). During the event, the moon will become only slightly dimmer. The lunar eclipse will begin at 5.48am and the observable period will end at 6.22am when the moon descends below the horizon. The duration will be about half an hour. As the moon will have already set before the eclipse completes, the part when the moon leaves the penumbra will not be visible in Hong Kong. Please refer to Figure 1 for the path of the moon during the eclipse.
Details of the penumbral lunar eclipse are as follows:
Hong Kong Azimuth Elevation
Time
--------- ------- ----------
Moon enters 5.48am West 7 degrees
penumbra (279 degrees)
Moonset 6.22am West-northwest -1 degree
(282 degrees)
As the elevation of the moon will be rather low during the eclipse, the event will be best observed at places with an unobstructed view to the horizon in the west, such as western Kowloon, Tuen Mun and Cheung Chau.
The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will be a total lunar eclipse on October 8, 2014.
Please refer to the Observatory's website for a detailed explanation of a lunar eclipse: www.hko.gov.hk/gts/event/event-lunar-eclps12_e.htm.
Ends/Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:01
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