Penumbral lunar eclipse in Hong Kong on 28 November
15 November 2012
A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on 28 November 2012 (Wednesday). The event will be visible in Hong Kong if the weather permits.
Scientific Officer of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Leung Yin-kong, said,"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 penumbral eclipse will last for about 4 hours and 41 minutes from 8:13pm on 28 November to 0:53am next morning. Most places with an unobstructed view to the east are suitable for viewing the event." Please refer to the attached diagram for the path of the moon during the eclipse.
Details of the penumbral lunar eclipse are as follows:
| Hong Kong Time | Direction (Azimuth) | Elevation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moon enters penumbra |
8:13pm (28 November) |
East (80 degrees) |
35 degrees |
| Middle of eclipse |
10:33pm (28 November) |
East (90 degrees) |
67 degrees |
| Moon leaves penumbra |
0:53am (29 November) |
West (260 degrees) |
81 degrees |
The next lunar eclipse observable in Hong Kong will occur on 26 April 2013. It will be a partial eclipse.
Please refer to the Observatory's website for a detailed explanation of lunar eclipse:
http://www.weather.gov.hk/gts/event/event-lunar-eclps11_e.htm
The path of the moon during the eclipse on 28 November 2012