A rare celestial event occurred in the skies above Hong Kong on Tuesday evening, when a total lunar eclipse coincided with the moon passing in front of Uranus and obscuring the planet. However, Hongkongers who lined the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui were unable to see the occurrence because of thick cloud. Despite the stubborn cloud cover, dedicated photographers and astronomy enthusiasts positioned along the promenade hoped for a silver lining. Subscribe to HKFP's twice-weekly newsletter for a concise round-up of local news and our best coverage. Unsubscribe at any time - we will not pass on your data to third parties. Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.The moon was supposed to have turned “an uncommon coppery-red hue,” according to the Hong Kong Space Museum, which live streamed the event. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth comes between the sun and the full moon, blocking the sun’s rays from reaching the moon. It is sometimes called a “blood moon” because the moon appears red as it is illuminated by light from Earth’s sunrises and sunsets. Derek Chan and Kenny Wong told HKFP they had taken annual leave to try and see the total lunar eclipse. “It’s alright if we don’t see the blood moon tonight. We can wait for the next one,” Wong said. “I heard it won’t be until 2,000 year time, though,” Chan added. The next time a total lunar eclipse will be visible from Hong Kong will be on September 8, 2025. However, a total lunar eclipse will not occur with a lunar occultation of Uranus in the skies above Hong Kong until 4862. |
VOX POPULI: Nikkei index soars but real economy still feels sluggishJudge rejects Trump free speech challenge to Georgia 2020 election caseChina is drilling some of the deepest holes in hunt for natural resourcesBrick Lane: Chinese political slogans appear on famous London streetChina news: July exports tumble by double digits, adding to pressure to shore up flagging economyShortland Street: Fate of muchUnexplained Tākaka death not suspiciousHong Kong lawmaker's petition opposing Gay Games is prejudiced, activist saysBrick Lane: Chinese political slogans appear on famous London streetShortland Street: Fate of much