On April 20, a rare event will take place in the skies that will be witnessed by a hundred astronomers from around the world. This event is the hybrid solar eclipse, where the Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light and creating a partial solar eclipse. The eclipse will be visible from a narrow path that will cross the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and the Middle East, with a total duration of approximately one hour and six minutes. ANTARA News reports that the astronomers will gather at various locations along the eclipse path to observe, study, and document this unique phenomenon. In this article, we will explore the significance of this hybrid solar eclipse and what the astronomers hope to learn from it.
The Hybrid Solar Eclipse Festival in Biak, Papua, is set to take place on April 17-20, 2023, and 100 astronomers from various countries and regions in Indonesia are expected to attend. The festival aims to make Sail Cenderawasih 2023 successful, and it is a rare natural phenomenon that occurs in the world. Head of the Biak Numfor Tourism Office, Onny Dangeubun, revealed that special glasses will be supplied to watch the eclipse directly. In hybrid solar eclipses, two different types of eclipses occur sequentially in the same phenomenon, and this event will be clearly visible in the districts of Biak Numfor and Kisar Island in Maluku.
Dangeubun emphasized that this rare type of solar eclipse changes from annular to total and vice versa in a short time; it will occur at 12:20 Eastern Indonesian Time (WIT) or 10:20 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), with its peak at 13:57 WIT or 11:57 WIB. “Papua will be the only area in Indonesia that will be traversed by the hybrid solar eclipse on April 20, 2023,” he stated. The Hybrid Solar Eclipses can only be witnessed in some remote areas, such as Kisar Island, Maopora Island, Damar Island, Watubela Island, Antalisa Village (Fakfak), Randepandai, Roswar, Num Island, Wooi, Serui, and Biak Kota.
According to Dangeubun, the Hybrid Solar Eclipse Festival in Biak hopes to attract a lot of tourists to witness this rare natural phenomenon directly from Biak Island. The festival forms part of the STC 2023 activities, lasting for three days in Nirmala Beach, Biak Mina Jaya. The event will commence with an observation of the night sky, followed by other activities like science culture bridge seminars, astronomers’ meetings, junior high school/high school eclipse poster design competitions, cultural delights, science education exhibitions, music corners, and watching the hybrid solar eclipse live on Biak Island.
The festival’s primary objective is to capture the attention of nature enthusiasts and promote tourism in Biak, Papua, and the surrounding islands. The government of Indonesia also hopes to use the festival to enhance the country’s image as an eco-friendly and adventurous tourism destination. It will also be an opportunity for scientists and researchers to study the phenomenon and collect important data to enhance their knowledge.
The festival aims to attract tourists to Biak Island and around 12 other locations in Indonesia where the hybrid solar eclipse will appear. It will provide an opportunity for tourists to experience Indonesia’s unique culture and witness a rare, natural phenomenon that rarely occurs in any part of the world.
In conclusion, the Hybrid Solar Eclipse Festival in Biak, Papua, is slated to take place on April 17-20, 2023. The festival aims to attract tourists to Biak Island and the surrounding areas to witness this rare phenomenon directly. The festival includes a series of events, such as astronomy seminars, cultural events, music shows, and observing the hybrid solar eclipse live, making it a unique cultural and tourism activity in Indonesia. It is expected to raise awareness of environmental conservation, eco-tourism, and adventure tourism in Indonesia, highlighting the country’s sustainable development plans.
