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A partial eclipse of the moon will occur this Friday (September 8). Weather permitting, the event will be visible in Hong Kong.
The partial eclipse will occur from 2.05am to 3.38am and the middle of eclipse will occur at 2.51am. This partial eclipse has an umbral magnitude of 0.189, meaning that 18.9% of the moon's diameter will enter into the umbra (total shadow) of the Earth at the middle of eclipse. As the entire moon will cross the penumbra (partial shadow) of the Earth, it will appear appreciably dimmer around the time of partial eclipse.
Please refer to the attached diagram for the path of the moon during the eclipse.
Details of the eclipse are as follows.
Hong Kong Azimuth Elevation
Time Direction (Degrees)
--------- --------- -------
Moonrise 6.21pm East 0
(September 7)
Moon enters
penumbra 0.42am South-southwest 59
(September 8)
Moon enters
umbra 2.05am Southwest 51
(September 8)
Middle of
eclipse 2.51am Southwest 43
(September 8)
Moon leaves
umbra 3.38am West-southwest 34
(September 8)
Moon leaves
penumbra 5am West-southwest 17
(September 8)
Moonset 6.20am West 0
(September 8)
The best places to observe the event will be those with unobstructed view to the southwest such as Tai O, Tuen Mun, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, etc.
The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will occur on March 4, 2007. It will be a total eclipse.
Please refer to the Hong Kong Observatory website for detailed explanation of the technical terms used for different stages of the eclipse:
http.//www.weather.gov.hk/gts/astron2006/lunar_eclipse_e.htm
Ends/Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:00
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