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Total lunar eclipse in Hong Kong on January 31
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     A total lunar eclipse will occur in Hong Kong on January 31 (Wednesday). The event will be visible from most places with an unobstructed view to the east if weather permits.

     The eclipse will begin at 6.50pm on January 31, attain its maximum at 9.30pm and end at 0.10am early next morning. Details of the total lunar eclipse are as follows:
 
Date Hong Kong Time Phenomenon Elevation Direction (Azimuth)
January 31 (Wednesday) 5.59pm Moonrise -1 degree East-northeast
(71 degrees)
6.50pm Moon enters penumbra 10 degrees East-northeast
(76 degrees)
7.48pm Moon enters umbra 23 degrees East(80 degrees)
8.51pm Total eclipse begins 37 degrees East(85 degrees)
9.30pm Maximum eclipse 45 degrees East(88 degrees)
10.08pm Total eclipse ends 54 degrees East(92 degrees)
11.12pm Moon leaves umbra 68 degrees East(101 degrees)
February 1 (Thursday) 0.10am Moon leaves penumbra 80 degrees Southeast
(125 degrees)

     Members of the public can watch the whole event via a webcast to be jointly provided by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre, the Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Solar Tower‧Camp on the following webpage: www.hko.gov.hk/gts/event/webcast-20180131.htm.

     The Hong Kong Space Museum, together with local astronomy organisations, will organise an observation activity called "Night of Total Lunar Eclipse" on that day. A number of telescopes will be deployed at Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section), Kowloon Park Piazza and Sha Tin Park Main Plaza to enable the public to watch the eclipse. For details, please refer to the following website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Space/en_US/web/spm/activity/observation.html.

     For the weather on January 31 and February 1, please refer to the latest nine-day weather forecast issued by the Observatory at the following webpage: www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/currwx/fnd.htm.

     As regards the astronomical observation conditions for that night, please refer to the "Weather Information for Astronomical Observation" webpage: www.hko.gov.hk/gts/astronomy/astro_portal.html.

     The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will occur on July 28, which will also be a total lunar eclipse.
 
Ends/Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:40
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