Blood Moon and Mars to put on a stellar show July 27/28, 2018 in Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan – If the sky is clear, people in Brunei will have the chance to witness 2 very rare astronomical phenomenon on the same night – a planetary opposition and a moon eclipse – on 27th/28th July 2018.

Two celestial events on the same night

On July 27, at around 10 pm, the red planet Mars will be directly opposite to the sun and at the same time being at closest distance from the Earth at about 56 million kilometers.

Mars will appear 10 times brighter than usual, at magnitude -2.8 on that night. We won’t have an opposition this favorable again until September 15, 2035. Stargazers should be able to see the planet appears as a very bright reddish “star” rising on the Eastern sky at around 8 pm.

Stay late! The second cosmic highlight of the night will happen in the early hours of August 28, a total lunar eclipse or known as the blood moon starting at 1:14 am. During the eclipse, the Earth will be moving directly between the Sun and the Moon.

The moon will be completely red for 1 hour 43 minutes during total phase from 3.30 am, the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st Century. On average, the totality lasts approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes during moon eclipse. The next total lunar eclipse that will last that long will occur will occur not until 2123.

Simulation of the phenomena from Brunei

Download our Skymap and Sky Highlight

You can download our simple guides for skywatching on July 27, 2018 and July 28, 2018 Total Lunar Eclipse e-book for Brunei Darussalam Tonight’s Sky 20180727 Lunar Eclipse Edition

How to view the Lunar Eclipse livestream?

The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam will host a livestream coverage of the phenomena on Saturday, July 28, 2018  from 1.00 am till 5.30 am (subject to weather) via www.facebook.com/bruneiastronomy 

Public Observation

There will be a public observation of the phenomena at Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, Bandar Seri Begawan from 7.00 pm (27th July) until 5.30 am (28th July). Telescopes will be set up for public viewing and astronomy talks will be conducted for free of charge at the venue.

Members of public are invited to bring binoculars or telescope to enjoy viewing the lunar eclipse. The event is co-organised by the Survey Department Ministry of Development, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) and the Astronomical Society of Negara Brunei Darussalam (PABD).

List of programmes and activities can be downloaded here: Updated Programmes and Activities for Eclipse and Mars Observation 20180727

Press Release

Please find a press release statements here: Press Release – 28 July 2018 Total Lunar Eclipse Obervation

Media Coverage

Double celestial treat awaits Brunei skygazers tomorrow (borneobulletin.com.bn)
July 26, 2018 (Borneo Bulletin)

| Azlan Othman |

IF THE sky is clear, people in Brunei will have the chance to witness two very rare astronomical phenomena – a planetary opposition and a moon eclipse – tomorrow night, said General-Secretary of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam Hazarry bin Haji Ali Ahmad.

On July 27 at around 10pm, the red planet Mars will be directly opposite to the Sun and at the same time being at closest distance from the Earth at about 56 million kilometres. Mars will appear 10 times brighter than usual, at magnitude -2.8 on that night. We will not witness an opposition this favourable again until September 15, 2035.

According to Hazarry, stargazers should be able to see the red planet appear as a very bright reddish “star” rising on the eastern sky at around 8pm from Brunei.

“The second cosmic highlight of the night is a total lunar eclipse, known as the Blood Moon, in the early hours of Saturday. During the eclipse, the Earth will be moving directly between the Sun and the Moon. It will begin when the full moon enters the Earth’s shadow (Penumbra) at 1.14am on July 28. About an hour later, the partial phase will begin at 2.24am when the moon begins to be covered by the dark Earth’s shadow, the Umbra,” he said.

Hazarry said the moon will be completely red for one hour 43 minutes during total phase from 3.30am, making the phenomenon the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st Century.

“Such long duration of total lunar eclipses had occurred on July 16, 2000 for a totality duration of one hour 46 minutes and another on June 15, 2011 for a totality duration of one hour 40 minutes. On average, the totality lasts approximately one hour to one hour and 30 minutes during moon eclipse. The next total lunar eclipse that will last that long will not occur until 2123,” he noted.

Path of the Moon into Earth’s Shadows and the times during the Total Lunar Eclipse on July 28 from Brunei Darussalam

Looking about West at around 2am from Brunei Darussalam, the Blood Moon and Mars will put on a stellar show on July 28. – PHOTOS: ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

It will be a spectacular night as the brilliant planet Mars will be near to the reddish-orange glow of the eclipsed moon, both visible with the naked eye.
The entire eclipse can be viewed from Brunei until moon set at 6.23am, Hazarry said.

There will be a public observation of the phenomena at Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, Bandar Seri Begawan from 7pm tomorrow until 5.30am.
Telescopes will be set up for public viewing and astronomy talks will be conducted free of charge at the venue.

Members of public are invited to bring binoculars or telescopes to enjoy viewing the lunar eclipse.

The event is co-organised by the Survey Department of the Ministry of Development, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali and the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam.

Total lunar eclipse is very rare and only 30 per cent of all lunar eclipses are total.

The next lunar eclipse visible in Brunei will take place on July 17 next year, but it will be a partial one.

On December 26 next year, people in Brunei will be experien-cing a partial solar eclipse when the moon passes in front of the Sun.

 

RTB NEWS AT 10 (www.rtb.gov.bn)