Starting just after the sun rises over southeast Asia, on the morning of Wednesday, March 9, residents of that region of the world will suddenly find themselves in the shadow of the Moon as Earth experiences a total solar eclipse!
Advertisement
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth.
In other eastern parts of the Archipelago, clouds spoiled the view for many sky watchers.
The whole eclipse lasted around three hours in Indonesia, but the total eclipse was visible for between just one and a half and three minutes, depending on location. The eclipse crosses eight different time zones, including the International Date Line!
A crowd of about 400 people, including students and families, gathered at a university sports field in Singapore to watch the eclipse, while groups of enthusiasts also converged on beaches and outside their highrise apartments to gaze upwards.
About a dozen astronomers and “eclipse chasers” were among the 163 passengers onboard Flight 870 from Anchorage to Honolulu, according to Alaskan Airlines’ blog. (Photo: AFP/Manan Vatsyayana)The eclipse seen at about 8.30am, with about 90 per cent of the sun covered. (Photo: AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin)A partial solar eclipse behind a star and crescent symbol atop a mosque in Kuala Lumpur.
A total solar eclipse is pictured from the city of Ternate, in Indonesia’s Maluku Islands, on March 9, 2016.
Total eclipses occur when the moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, and the three bodies align precisely.
Indeed, the next solar eclipse – which will be visible from parts of Africa on September 1 – will be the annular type.
“It is now dark here, but unfortunately, we can not see the sun”.
Foreign scientists also decended on Indonesia.
Advertisement
A solar eclipse is seen from Palembang, South Sumatra province, Indonesia March 9, 2016.
