ýÿA lunar occultation of Venus will appear in Hong Kong at night on March 24 (Friday) when the Moon passes between the Earth and the planet Venus, causing Venus to vanish temporarily from view. The Hong Kong Space Museum will livestream this astronomical phenomenon on its YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/hkspacem) and the "LCSD Plusss" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LCSDPlusss) from 7.30pm to 9pm and explain the astronomy behind the lunar occultation of Venus.
      
     The phenomenon will last one hour and six minutes. Just before Venus's "disappearing act" starts at 7.47pm, both Venus and the Moon will be seen dangling above the northwestern horizon. Binoculars or telescopes can be used to observe the duo more clearly. As the Moon will be just 3.8 degrees above the horizon when Venus reappears at 8.53pm, observers are advised to go to a place with an unobstructed view towards the northwestern horizon to get a clear view of the event.
      
     Since the orbital plane of the Moon is nearly coplanar with those of the planets, a lunar occultation in which the Moon blocks the light from a planet from view happens from time to time. As Venus is the brightest celestial object in the solar system after the Sun and the Moon, lunar occultation of Venus is easy to observe and has gained the attention of astronomy lovers. The last lunar occultation of Venus observable in Hong Kong was in 2010, and the next one will not be seen until 2063.
      
     As astronomical observation depends heavily on weather conditions, members of the public are advised to check the latest weather update before observing. For more information on the lunar occultation of Venus and the livestreaming, please visit the Museum's website at hk.space.museum.
     

Ends/Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:05

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