Bandar Seri BegawanΒ (2015 AprilΒ 04) –Β Sky gazers and eclipse watchers gatheredΒ in theΒ eveningΒ at Dermaga Diraja in the capital to observe the full eclipse of the Moon. The event was co-organised by Sultan SharifΒ΄Ali Islamic University (UNISSA), Survey Deparment and the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam.
Despite the weather was partly cloudy, most of the eclipse stages wereΒ observable from moon rise,Β at about 7 pm, till the end ofΒ partial phase, at 9.45 pm.
Totalityβs duration was less thanΒ 5 minutesΒ that madeΒ thisΒ phenomenon as the briefest sight of totality in the 21st century.
More spectacular photos of the eclipse posted on the social media by local Bruneian photographers with #bruneieclipse
During the Lunar Eclipse,Β a Sunat Gerhana Prayer was performed at the nearby surau as a recommended prayer (salatul-kusuf) in congregation. Public talks on the Scientific and Islamic perspectives of the eclipse and its significantΒ were also delivered by Haji Julaihi bin Hj Lamat of Survey DepartmentΒ and Dr Sayyed Abdul Hamid al-Mahdaly fromΒ UNISSA.
Present during the event were theΒ co-chairperson, Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji ZainalΒ (UNISSA’s Rektor) and Hj Julaihi bin Haji Lamat (SurveyΒ Department).
PABD wishes toΒ thank all working committeesΒ of UNISSA and Survey Department for your hard work making this event possible, and non-stop huge responses from members of the public forΒ the continuous support.
RTB NEWS AT 10: Moon Eclipse Observation
Moon Eclipse Observation on RTB News at 10. Source: Radio Television Brunei
People in Brunei Darussalam had the opportunity to watch an astronomical phenomenon – the Eclipse of the Moon. The total eclipse occurred for four minutes between 7:58 to 8:02 last night. The observation was conducted by the Brunei Darussalam Astronomy Association with the cooperation of the Survey Department and the Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, UNISSA.
The Royal Wharf in the capital became the observation centre for people to witness the phenomenon. Several telescopes were provided by the organisers to allow members of the public to gaze at the lunar eclipse in good weather. The phenomenon occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up causing the Moon to pass through the Earth’s shadow. The brief spectacle was also seen in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand as well as western North America. A partial lunar eclipse is predicted to occur in August 2017