From the sea – the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) monitored the total lunar eclipse at Cinta Pier, Ancol Beach, Jakarta. Meanwhile, Bosscha Observatory held virtual observations of the night sky in Lembang, West Java, Wednesday (26/5).
A total lunar eclipse is an event where the sun’s rays are blocked by the earth which causes not all light to reach the moon. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun – Earth – Moon are aligned.
BMKG Coordinator for Potential Geophysics and Time Signs, Hendra Suwarta, said that his party provided two telescopes connected to the telecommunications network. This is so that the public can witness a rare phenomenon that is predicted to occur again in 2033.
According to Hendra, there are 36 monitoring points throughout Indonesia. For the location in Ancol, two telescopes are provided. So live streaming is provided so that the public can witness this rare phenomenon.
Hendra said the phase of the total lunar eclipse phenomenon at the Ancol Cinta Pier. First, the moon rises at 17.40 WIB and the end of the total lunar eclipse occurs at 18.28 WIB.
The start of the total lunar eclipse at 18.09 WIB. Then at 18:18 the peak of the total eclipse and 18:28 the end of the total lunar eclipse.
The end of the partial phase occurred at 19.52.48 WIB and the end of the penumbara phase occurred at 20.51.14 WIB.
The entire eclipse process from the initial phase to the final phase, lasts for 5 hours 5 minutes and 2 seconds.
The total eclipse process, from the beginning of the total phase (U2), the total peak until the end of the total phase (U3) lasted for 18 minutes 44 seconds.
BMKG’s Deputy for Geophysics, Muhamad Sadly, said that his party had carried out observations of the total lunar eclipse of 26 May 2021 in 36 locations throughout Indonesia spread across Indonesia.
Mostly in monitoring total lunar eclipse using a telescope combined with information technology detectors and disseminated through the BMKG website
Monitoring of the total lunar eclipse was also held at the Bosscha Observatory. The instruments used by Bosscha Observatory in this observation are three telescopes, each of which serves to capture closer details of the moon.
In addition, taking videos of lunar eclipses that are shown live in the event, and capturing photos and details that will be further processed into beautiful images.
Before starting the observation, ITB Astronomy Study Program Lecturer Ferry Simatupang explained about the danjon scale which is the brightness scale of the moon’s surface at the peak of the eclipse.
“Keep in mind the eclipse that we are observing today (when) the total phase of the moon is in a low position on the horizon. Meanwhile, if the moon or sun is low on the horizon, it will tend to be reddish in color due to the scattering of moonlight or sunlight by the atmosphere. So other than the scale, (the surface of the Moon) will appear redder because of the low position of the Moon on the horizon,” Ferry said as quoted from Itb.ac.id.
In the Bandung area, the Moon rises at 17.35 WIB and is already in the partial eclipse phase. The moon begins to enter the totality phase at 18.11 WIB which then lasts for 14 minutes.
The peak of the eclipse occurred in the middle of the totality phase, precisely at 18.18 WIB. After that, the Moon will return to the partial phase which ends at 19:52 WIB and then enter the penumbral phase which can be observed until 20:49 WIB.
Bosscha Observatory astronomer Muhammad Yusuf said we can see there will be many phases total lunar eclipse which looks beautiful if we take a picture. Even if you see it with your eyes.
There will be various colors that appear that we don’t see on a daily basis. At full moon, it is very difficult to see the stars because the starlight is covered by moonlight.
Meanwhile when moon eclipse total happens, we can see the stars to be able to identify the very dim.
–
