Do astronomy enthusiasts know that this year there will be a hybrid solar eclipse in the Indonesian sky? Reported from BetweenThe National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) revealed that this phenomenon will occur on April 20, 2023.
Researcher at the BRIN Space Research Center, Dr. Johan Muhamad, M.Sc explained, a hybrid solar eclipse is a solar eclipse that is visible from some parts of the Earth as a total solar eclipse, but in other areas it is seen as an annular solar eclipse.
“The solar eclipse that will occur on April 20 2023 in Indonesian territory is a very special eclipse because it is a hybrid solar eclipse that rarely occurs,” he said in a statement quoted in Jakarta, Tuesday.
Johan explained that in eastern Indonesia, a hybrid solar eclipse will be observed as a total solar eclipse. While in other areas of Indonesia it will be seen as a partial solar eclipse. The solar eclipse will also be observed as an annular solar eclipse in the southern Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.
For a total solar eclipse, the shadow of the moon’s core (umbra) on the earth’s surface will pass through parts of eastern Indonesia. The phenomenon of a total solar eclipse at this point will last quite a long time, namely 1 minute 16 seconds.
Most of the paths of the total solar eclipse pass through ocean areas such as the Timor Sea and the Banda Sea. The land that is traversed by the path of this total solar eclipse is part of Timor Leste and several areas in West Papua.
Some of the areas that will be passed by the total solar eclipse in 2023 include Fakfak Regency, Teluk Bintuni Regency, Teluk Wondama Regency, Yapen Islands Regency, and others.
The appearance of the total solar eclipse will be in Biak, Papua Province, expected to start at 12.20 WIT. The peak of the eclipse will occur at 13.57 WIT. Meanwhile in Jakarta, a partial solar eclipse begins at 09.29 WIB and peaks at 10.45 WIB.
This solar eclipse phenomenon can be witnessed safely by using a telescope equipped with a solar filter, special glasses for solar eclipses, a telephoto lens DSLR camera equipped with a solar filter and through a pinhole camera.
“Remember, we can’t look at the sun directly without using a special sun filter,” he said.
According to Johan, solar eclipses can be an interesting phenomenon for researchers in Indonesia to conduct research related to eclipses, such as observing the sun’s corona, measuring the effect of gravitational lensing, the effect of a solar eclipse on ionospheric and atmospheric conditions, and the effect of a solar eclipse on the behavior of living things. life.
Hybrid solar eclipses can also be an educational tool for Indonesian people, especially children, to learn science. This phenomenon can also attract both domestic and foreign tourists to visit tourist spots that offer the prospect of observing the eclipse.
Illustration: Pixabay
