Hongkongers will get a rare opportunity to see a “blood moon” during Saturday morning’s historic lunar eclipse.
A partial eclipse will start at 1:14am, as the moon enters the earth’s shadow. The total eclipse will take place at 3:30am, and last for an hour and 43 minutes. The earth will completely block the sun’s light from reaching the moon, giving the moon a rusty orange-red glow — hence the name “blood moon.”
The total eclipse will be the longest of the 21st century, according to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The best places to see the “blood moon,” according to Bartholomew Tsang, an astronomy tutor at the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre, are areas free of hills and tall buildings to the southwest, like Victoria Peak, Kowloon Peak and Harbour City.
Tsang recommended the following 10 places around Hong Kong for optimal views of Saturday’s eclipse.
He noted that these sites above are accessible by road, but that the peaks and beaches may be especially crowded with people hoping to get a glimpse of the moon turning red.
The Hong Kong Space Museum has also partnered with several groups to position telescopes around the city for people to watch the eclipse, SCMP reports.
Those who can’t venture out to watch in person can view a livestream broadcast by the Hong Kong Observatory, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Ho Koon Nature Education cum Astronomical Centre and other groups.
