A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is perfectly aligned between the sun and the earth. During the partial eclipse, the moon never completely covers the sun.

The phenomenon of a partial solar eclipse will last for 2 hours 37 minutes, where throughout this celestial event, the Moon will obscure a small fraction of the sun. During the greatest eclipses, i.e. at 12.24 p.m., nearly 34 percent of the sun will be covered by the Moon.

People who wish to observe this phenomenon are advised not to look at the sun directly. Some of the safe methods of watching the sun eclipse are employed by using Shade 14 Welding Glasses, solar filters or by telescope projection.

Solar eclipse of the Sun is an uncommon phenomenon. The previous solar eclipse in Brunei happened on 21 Jun 2020. The next phenomenon of solar eclipse will occur again in Brunei on Thursday, 22 July 2028.

Press Release

Program 2: Live Cerapan Gerhana Matahari Separa 21 Jun 2020 (Partial Solar Eclipse Live Observation June 21, 2020)
Date: Sunday, 21 Jun 2020 / 29 Syawal 1441H
Broadcast Time: 2.45 pm – 5.30 pm (UTC+8)

Livestream links: 
Exclusive solar eclipse show (Malay/English)  www.facebook.com/bruneiastronomy 
Clean sun image www.bruneiastronomy.org/eclipse        

Organiser:  The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam

Supported by:
MY-East Asia Universe Awareness Solar Eclipse (MY-EAUNIVASE)
International Astronomical Union (IAU) Global Outreach Events 2020
Timeanddate.com
International Astronomical Centre (IAC)             

Hosts:    
Farah Laila Nabilah Abdullah Chia
Haji Jamri Bin Jaafar

Main Telescope Location 1:
Balai Cerap Mini, Kampong Keriam, Tutong –     Hazarry Hj Ali Ahmad

Main Telescope Location 2: 
Kampong Kiarong – Hj Mohd Azri bin Haji Ibrahim & Abd Waliyuddin bin Yahya

List of Interviews & Featuring Eclipse watchers:
Amirul Hazim Kamarulzaman, Pengasas Bersama Apadilangit; Universe Awareness Malaysia
Hj Musa bin Pengarah Hj Jair, Kampong Bengkurong
Dayang Siti Nor Izuana Binti Ayob, PABD
Muhd Zulhimi bin Mohd Jefri, Masjid Sungai Liang
Muhd Riduan bin Awang Haji Sulaiman, CEO AvaaCreative
Hj Muhd Firdaus, Temburong
Abd Hamid bin Hj Abd Rahman, PABD
Emma Zulaiha, Pengarah Kegiatan Luar Sabah Stargazer
Ceri Powell, Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum
Muhammad Haekal @ Ramadhani bin Shaifulbahri, Kampong Tungku
Muhammad Arief Zuhairi Chia bin Abdullah Syihab, PABD
Ak Md Nur’ Nazirul Mubin bin Pg Roslan, Vice President BARA

Bandar Seri Begawan – A perfect alignment of the 3 celestial bodies, Earth-Moon-Sun, will occur on Sunday June 21, 2020, resulting in a spectacular annular solar eclipse which can only be view from specific areas on Earth.

The annular phase of this solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Africa including the Central African Republic, Congo, and Ethiopia; Asia in Yemen, Oman, south of Pakistan and northern India, China including Taiwan. You must be located within the narrow path of annularity represented on the map above by a red line (about 11,400 km long and 21 km width), where people in these areas will see the characteristic “ring of fire”.

Use this Interactive World Map of the Annular Sun Eclipse of June 21, 2020 by NASA to find out start time of the eclipse for your location: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2020Jun21Agoogle.html

While for many areas around the globe will experiencing some part of the Sun is covered by the Moon in most Africa, Southeastern Europe, most of Asia including Brunei Darussalam and some tip of Northern Australia (see map above).

Partial Solar Eclipse from Brunei

The partial solar eclipse happens when the moon never completely covers the sun. In Brunei, the phenomenon will start at exactly 3:10 pm, will last for about two hours and 13 minutes. The maximum phase of the eclipse (greatest obscuration) will occur at 4:22:36 pm with the moon covering 28.2 per cent of the sun’s disc. The partial eclipse will end when the moon leaves the sun’s edge at 5:23 pm. Diagrams of the eclipse sequence or phases from Brunei in Local Time are as follow:

The next eclipses visible from Brunei Darussalam:
1. Total Lunar on Wednesday, 26 May 2021 and Partial Lunar on Friday, 19 November 2021
2. Partial Solar on Thursday, 20 April 2023

Partial Eclipse Visibility for Southeast Asia

The partial eclipse of the Sun will be widely visible to areas in the Southeast Asia regions from Burma to the Philippines, but will not be visible from West Java Indonesia. The map and table of timing for the eclipse show below:

Viewing Eclipse of the Sun Safely

Watching a solar eclipse will be a breath taking experience especially because of it’s rarity and mystery. However, it comes with a warning! Our sun emits dangerous radiations. Never look directly at the Sun without proper solar filter even when if the Sun is almost completely blocked during the solar eclipse or by the clouds.

Don’t stare at the sun without protective glasses. Avoid using improper solar filters such CD, plastic bag, sunglasses, exposed x-ray film etc. to view the sun as harmful radiation can still pass through these objects.  You can purchase a solar eclipse glass. Solar UV radiation can burn the retinas at the back of your eyes, and cause permanent damage or even blindness. Another safe method of viewing the sun is to use a projection of the sun using small pin-hole camera or binocular or a small telescope.

Astronomy Eclipse Talk

Live streams

List of live streaming videos of the eclipse from around the world:

Find out more on 21 June 2020 Annular Solar Eclipse resources and events compiled by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) https://iau.org/public/noc/eclipse/

Solar Eclipse Activities

Let us know if you are organising either individual or in group for Jun 21 solar eclipse observation or activities in Brunei Darussalam & get featured in our first nationwide livestream solar eclipse coverage. Contact: +673874 4170 (Hj Jamri)  or e-mail jamri@bruneiastronomy.org