Total Lunar Eclipse Visible in Hong Kong on March 3: Don't Miss the Dull Red Moon!

Total lunar eclipse in Hong Kong on evening of March 3

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 6.22pm, when part of the moon has already entered the Earth's umbra. The moon will be completely engulfed in the umbra at 7.04pm, marking the beginning of the total eclipse phase. The maximum eclipse will occur at 7.34pm, and the moon will begin its exit from the umbra at 8.03pm. 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 10.25pm.

Details of this total lunar eclipse are as follows:

Date

Time

Phenomenon

Elevation

Direction (Azimuth)

March 3 (Tuesday)

4.43pm

Moon enters penumbra

Below the horizon

Not visible in Hong Kong

5.50pm

Moon enters umbra

Below the horizon

Not visible in Hong Kong

6.22pm

Moonrise

-1 degree

East

(83 degrees)

7.04pm

Total eclipse begins

9 degrees

East

(87 degrees)

7.34pm

Maximum eclipse

15 degrees

East

(90 degrees)

8.03pm

Total eclipse ends

22 degrees

East

(93 degrees)

9.18pm

Moon exits umbra

38 degrees

East

(101 degrees)

10.25pm

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.

Photo source: hko.gov.hk

FEHD orders food factory in Tuen Mun to suspend business for 14 days

The Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene has ordered a food factory in Tuen Mun to suspend business for 14 days, as the licensee repeatedly breached the Food Business Regulation (FBR) by extending the business area illegally and storing open food improperly.

The premises, located at Shop H on the ground floor of Kam Lai Mansion at 1-5 Yan Ching Street, was ordered to suspend business from today (February 20) to March 5.

"Two convictions for the above-mentioned breach were recorded against the shop licensee in May and June last year. A total fine of $3,700 was levied by the court, and 15 demerit points were registered against the licensee under the department's demerit points system. The contraventions resulted in the 14-day licence suspension," a spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said.

The licensee concerned had a record of two convictions for storing open food improperly in January and April last year. A total fine of $3,500 was levied, and 15 demerit points were also registered, leading to a seven-day licence suspension last August.

The spokesman reminded licensees of food premises to comply with the FBR, or their licences could be suspended or cancelled.

Licensed food premises are required to exhibit their licence and a sign at a conspicuous place of the premises, indicating that the premises are licensed. A list of licensed food premises is available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/licence-foodPremises-search.html).

Source: AI-found images