By Lyna Mohamad, Borneo Bulletin (June 23, 2020)
Skywatchers across Brunei Darussalam were treated to a partial solar eclipse, which began yesterday at 3.10pm.
Many used special solar glasses to witness the rare annular event at outdoor locations, while others watched it through a livestreamed session conducted from 2.45pm to 5.30pm by the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD).
The livestream for the Brunei-Muara District was carried out at the Kiarong residence of PABD member Haji Mohd Azri bin Haji Ibrahim, who had even set up viewing equipment for
eager observers.
The PABD also had several other back-ups and livestreaming at strategic points across the country to enable more views of the eclipse.
The observation event was organised by PABD, in collaboration with the MY-East Asia Universe Awareness Solar Eclipse (MY-EAUNIVASE) project, under the partnership network of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) National Outreach Coordinators in nine East
Asian countries.
PABD also collaborated with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) and Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) to host a livestreaming discussion titled โAstronomy Talk: The Phenomenon of Solar Eclipseโ, on June 19 evening.
The general astronomy talk programme provided an opportunity for the public to interact with astronomy and falak syariโe experts.
Brunei Darussalam will witness the next solar eclipse on April 20, 2023.
