Rare lunar eclipse to take place during mid-autumn full moon next Saturday

A rare lunar eclipse will take place when the mid-autumn full moon rises next Saturday.

Normally, a bright moon will be on full view at night during the festival period if weather permits.

But this year, a penumbral lunar eclipse will occur around the time of the mid-autumn full moon.

The astronomical event, which happened once in the past 20 years, will last for four hours and three minutes, the Observatory said.

It explained: “As the moon will pass through the penumbra (partial shadow) of the Earth without entering the umbra (total shadow), the moon will become only slightly dimmer during the event.”