We all get understandably excited when there’s either a supermoon, a blue moon or a total lunar eclipse –all of which are incredibly rare occurrences. But prepare to be over the moon because all three astrological events are happening at the same time on Wednesday night – a first in 152 years.
So what does that actually mean? A supermoon is when a full moon occurs on the same day that it’s closest to Earth, making the moon appear larger and brighter than usual. A blue moon is what happens when there’s a second full moon occurring within same month. And a total lunar eclipse is when the Earth, sun and moon just happen to line up with the Earth blocking the sunlight, affecting the moon’s brightness and take on a reddish hue. Put them all together, you get a giant, red-tinted moon.
According to the Hong Kong Government, the super blue moon eclipse is visible in most places in Hong Kong including unobstructed views in the east and will begin at 6.49pm on Wednesday and end at 12.09am. If you’re stuck at the office or indoors for most the of the evening, you can watch the whole thing via webcast on the Hong Kong Observatory website. Or if you're a keen stargazer, you can pop over to Central and Western District Promenade, Kowloon Park Piazza and Sha Tin Park Main Plaza where a number of telescopes are there for the public to enjoy.
So whatever you have planned for Wednesday, cancel them now and direct all your attention – and SLR cameras – to the night sky.