Penumbral lunar eclipse in Hong Kong on May 5
28 April 2023
A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur in Hong Kong on the evening of May 5 (Friday) and last until the small hours of the next day. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the penumbra of the earth but not the umbra. During the event, the moon will only become slightly dimmer. The eclipse will begin at 11.12pm on May 5 and end at 3.34am on May 6, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 1.23am on May 6. If weather permits, the event can be observed at most places with an unobstructed view towards the south.
Details of this penumbral lunar eclipse are as follows:
| Date | Time | Phenomenon | Elevation | Direction (Azimuth) |
|
May 5 (Friday) |
6.32 pm | Moonrise | -1 degree | East-southeast （107 degrees |
| 11.12 pm | Moon enters penumbra | 47 degrees | South-southeast （158 degrees） |
|
|
May 6 (Saturday) |
1.23 am | Maximum eclipse | 47 degrees | South-southwest （203 degrees） |
| 3.34 am | Moon leaves penumbra | 28 degrees | Southwest （233 degrees） |
For the latest weather condition and the astronomical observation condition on May 5, please refer to the Hong Kong Observatory’s latest weather forecast and the Weather Information for Astronomical Observation webpage.
The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will be a partial lunar eclipse on October 29 this year.
Figure 1. The penumbral lunar eclipse process on 5 May 2023.
Figure 2. A schematic diagram showing the elevation and azimuth of the moon during the penumbral eclipse on 5 May 2023.