Hundreds gather at Hong Kong Space Museum to watch partial solar eclipse

Event began at 12.17pm and ended at 3.22pm, with 46 per cent of the sun’s diameter obscured by the moon

The Hong Kong Observatory warned the public not to look directly at the sun with naked eye nor through a telescope

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People in Hong Kong gathered at the city’s space museum to watch a partial solar eclipse on Boxing Day. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 11:30am, 26 Dec 2019Updated: 7:08pm, 26 Dec 2019

Hundreds of astronomy enthusiasts gathered on the roof of the Hong Kong Space Museum on Thursday to watch a partial solar eclipse.

The city attraction provided telescopes and filters for the families and tourists who turned up to get a view of the event, while 30 volunteers and astronomy buffs were available to answer questions about the eclipse, which occurred between 12pm and 3.30pm.

Forecasters said the maximum eclipse occurred at 1.55pm, when 46 per cent of the sun’s diameter was obscured by the moon.

To avoid severe eye damage, the Hong Kong Observatory had warned the public not to look directly at the sun with the naked eye, nor through a telescope.

People used filters, telescopes and cameras to watch and capture images of the partial solar eclipse. Photo: Felix Wong

Among the visitors was Peter Cheung, 46, who went to watch the eclipse with his wife, and eight-year-old daughter Cassie.

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