.
There will be an annular solar eclipse occurring on the 26th of January 2009, and we will be treated with a sunset we may never see again in our lifetimes. The better half of SEA will lie within the penumbra of the Moon's shadow, while a small strip of land on the island of Sumatra and Borneo will enjoy the privilege of being in the umbra (hence enjoying the full show).
.
Unfortunately, unless you are celebrating CNY in Sumatera, we Malaysians (and Singaporeans) will only enjoy a partial eclipse at sunset, ranging from a 70 - 80 % eclipse in Johor - Singapore, to a 50 - 60% eclipse in Ipoh (where I'll be). Here are the details:
.
This diagram shows the path of totality, marked in red, and the area in the penumbra, marked in the blue grid. Below are the details of the eclipse for specific areas throughout Malaysia:
.
The times are given in UT or Universal Time, which is astronomical standard of time. It is nearly equivalent to GMT time, which places Malaysia at approximately +8 UT. However, due to the machination of Dr. M, who standardised the East and West Malaysian clocks, the actual timing is actually between +7 to +8 UT.
The eclipse occurs at about 4 to 7 pm in West Malaysia, and it is about then you should find a place with a relatively clear view of the western horizon, that is, either find an open field or get to a relatively high place. The maximum eclipse occurs at about 4.30 to 5.30 pm. So, drop whatever you are doing, wherever you are about this time to witness this rather rare phenomenon. Feel free to take pictures, bang pots and pans or anything else you fancy.
.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment