A notable annular solar eclipse, with the solar eclipse zone stretching across part of Asia and Africa, occurred on 21June. It was visible as a partial solar eclipse in Hong Kong, with a magnitude of 0.89 as Hong Kong was close to the path of annularity. At maximum eclipse, 89 per cent of the sun's diameter was obscured by the moon. It was sunny that afternoon, but as the eclipse occurred the sunlight dimmed slightly and the temperature dropped by about two or three degrees across districts, while the Ultraviolet (UV) Index and global solar radiation dropped significantly.
The temperature at the King's Park Meteorological Station dropped by two degrees Celsius (red line) during the eclipse
The Ultraviolet Index recorded at the King's Park Meteorological Station dropped markedly during the solar eclipse
The magnitude of this partial solar eclipse reached 0.89 (photo credit: Bambi George / CWOS)
Hong Kong's weather was generally fine on that day, and quite a number of citizens could clearly observe the solar eclipse. The event was live-broadcast on HKO YouTube and Facebook platforms. More than 12,000 viewers were watching the broadcast as the eclipse peaked.
This was Hong Kong's highest magnitude solar eclipse in 8 years. The next solar eclipse with a similar or even higher magnitude will not occur until 2070.
