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JAKARTA. People in 12 of the country’s provinces will witness a total solar eclipse on March 9, a first in the country in more than two decades. As reported by kompas.com, the rare phenomenon has attracted researchers, astrologists and tourists to the 12 provinces from where people will be able to view the eclipse.
However, only eight of the 12 provinces will experience the total eclipse, while West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, and Central Sulawesi will only see a partial eclipse.
Here is a list of the eight provinces, and their respective eclipse-viewing schedules:
1. North Pagai, West Sumatra
6:20:22 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
7:19:13 a.m. – the total eclipse
8:25:45 a.m. – the eclipse ends
2. Palembang, South Sumatra
6:20:30 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
7:21:45 a.m. – the total eclipse
8:31:28 a.m. the eclipse ends
3. Tanjung Pandang, Bangka Belitung
6:21:06 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
7:23:58 a.m. – the total eclipse
8:35:48 a.m. the eclipse ends
4. Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan
6:23:29 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
7:30:12 a.m. – the total eclipse
8:46:54 a.m. the eclipse ends
5. Balikpapan, East Kalimantan
7:25:38 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
8:34:26 a.m. the total eclipse
9:53:41 a.m. the eclipse ends
6. Palu, Central Sulawesi
7:27:51 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
8:38:50 a.m. the total eclipse
10:00:35 a.m. the eclipse ends
7. Ternate, North Maluku
8:36:04 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
9:53:01 a.m. the total eclipse
11:20:52 a.m. the eclipse ends
8. Maba, North Maluku
8:37:01 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
9:54:39 a.m. the total eclipse
11:23:06 a.m. the eclipse ends
The duration of the total eclipse will be between one-and-a-half and three minutes. The shortest will occur on South Pagai Island, West Sumatra, for one minute and 54 seconds. The longest one will be in East Halmahera, North Maluku, for three minutes and 17 seconds.
Jakartans will be able to enjoy the eclipse with a closure ratio of 88.74 percent, according to kompas.com. Here is the schedule:
6:19 a.m. – sun and the moon start forming conjunction
7:21 a.m. – the total eclipse
8:31 a.m. the eclipse ends
Indonesia has experienced four total eclipses in the last 33 years: Oct. 24, 1995; March 18, 1988; Nov. 22, 1984; and June 11, 1983. The next total eclipse in the country is predicted to happen on April 20, 2042.
