Total lunar eclipse in Hong Kong on evening of March 3
20 February 2026
A total lunar eclipse will occur in Hong Kong on the evening of March 3 (Tuesday). The total eclipse process can be directly observed with unaided eyes at places with an unobstructed view to the east, if weather permits.
The lunar eclipse will begin before moonrise. The moonrise time will be 6:22 pm, when part of the moon has already entered the Earth’s umbra. The moon will be completely engulfed in the umbra at 7:04 pm, marking the beginning of the total eclipse phase. The maximum eclipse will occur at 7:34 pm, and the moon will begin its exit from the umbra at 8:03 pm. The total eclipse phase will last for 59 minutes. During the period, the moon will not completely disappear from sight but will appear dull red. This is the result of the blue light component of the sunlight being scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere and the remaining red light being refracted onto the lunar surface. The entire process of the lunar eclipse will end at 10:25 pm.
Details of this total lunar eclipse are as follows:
| Date | Time | Phenomenon | Elevation | Direction (Azimuth) |
|
March 3 (Tuesday) |
4:43 pm | Moon enters penumbra | Below the horizon | Not visible in Hong Kong |
| 5:50 pm | Moon enters umbra | Below the horizon | Not visible in Hong Kong |
|
| 6:22 pm | Moonrise | -1 degree | East (83 degrees) |
|
| 7:04 pm | Total eclipse begins | 9 degrees | East (87 degrees) |
|
| 7:34 pm | Maximum eclipse | 15 degrees | East (90 degrees) |
|
| 8:03 pm | Total eclipse ends | 22 degrees | East (93 degrees) |
|
| 9:18 pm | Moon exits umbra | 38 degrees | East (101 degrees) |
|
| 10:25 pm | Moon exits penumbra | 53 degrees | East-southeast (112 degrees) |
On the night of March 3, members of the public can watch the whole event via a webcast webpage, jointly hosted by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre (sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), the Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College and the Creative Education Unit of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.
For the latest weather conditions and the astronomical observation conditions on March 3, please refer to the Hong Kong Observatory’s 9-day weather forecast webpage and the Weather Information for Astronomical Observation webpage.
The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will be a penumbral lunar eclipse on February 21, 2027.
Figure 1 The total lunar eclipse process on March 3, 2026.
Figure 2 Schematic diagram showing elevation and azimuth of the Moon during the eclipse on March 3, 2026.