The earliest sunset of the year was originally not at the end of the winter solstice. According to the observatory's sunset forecast, it was already sunset at 5:38 pm from 23rd to December 1st of this month, and the daytime days thereafter were slightly extended by a few minutes.
Although it was the same sunset at 5:38, the Underground Observatory said that yesterday (27th) and today (28th) sunset were the earliest in the year, and the winter solstice (December 21) began to sunset at 5:44 pm , 6 minutes later than this week.
The sunset on November 28 and the 27th this year are the earliest sunsets of the year. The sunset is reflected on the glass exterior wall of the International Trade Plaza (ICC).
The picture was taken at 5:00 pm on November 28th.
(Photo by Leung Yu Po / Facebook Page Community Weather Observation Project CWOS)
Director of the Underground Observatory: Both the earliest sunset and the latest sunrise are not the winter solstice
As winter is about to enter (December to February of the following year), the weather gradually turns cooler, and many citizens may have noticed that night comes earlier.
The director of the Underground Observatory Fang Zhigang shared on social networking sites yesterday (27th) that the earliest sunset was yesterday and today, not the winter solstice.
He stated on his blog that the earliest sunset occurred in late November, at 5:38 pm, after which the sunset time began to be delayed.
The sunset time on the winter solstice day is 5:44 pm, which is not the earliest day of sunset; while the winter solstice sunrise time is 6:58, which is not the latest day of sunrise. Hong Kong’s latest sunrise will have to wait until mid-January. Sunrise did not come until 7:05. When the citizens went to work and school, the sky might still not light up.
Traditionally in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is believed to have the earliest sunset time, but in fact, due to the "yellow-red angle" (the intersection angle between the earth's orbital plane (ecliptic plane) and the equatorial plane (celestial equatorial plane)), it is affected by the elliptical orbit of the earth. The earliest time will not fall on the winter solstice, Hong Kong will be at the end of November.
(Photo of Hong Kong Space Museum)
Up to 30 Gemini meteor showers per hour in December
In addition, a Gemini meteor shower will be staged from December 13th to 14th. In the broad and darker suburbs, under good weather conditions, there will be a chance to see about 20 to 30 meteors per hour.
During the peak period of this meteor shower, 150 meteors can appear at the zenith, but it occurred at 3 pm on December 14th, Hong Kong time.
When the peak of a meteor appears at noon or when the sun is strong such as sunrise or sunset, its light trails will be more difficult to see than the bright sun.
Therefore, the Hong Kong Space Museum considers the local observation conditions to be "normal."
▼Past meteor shower situation▼
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