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Watch Online Live Stream the Rare Transit of Mercury on November 11, 2019

Transit of Venus from Brunei Darussalam on June 8, 2004 (Photo by Pg Shahdani of PABD). The planet disk or silhouette during the transit of Mercury will be smaller than Venus as seen from the Earth.

Bandar Seri Begawan – The planet Mercury will transit in front of the sun on 11 November and ends on 12 November (Brunei Time). The passage will take for a total of 5h 28m 48s and will be visible from America, Europe, Africa and Western Asia. The phenomenon will not be visible from South East Asia including Brunei Darussalam and Australia.

Planet transit takes place in stages and the followings are the key time of contacts (Brunei Time) :
I (first external contact of Mercury with the Sun’s disk): 20h 35m 26s
II (first internal contact of Mercury with the solar disk) : 20h 37m 08s
Greatest (distance between the planet’s disk and the sun’s centre at minimum): 23h 19m 48s
III (last internal contact): 2h 02m 33s
IV (last external contact): 2h 04m 14s

Mercury transit happens about 13 or 14 per century, and this is the last one for 13 years. The next one is on November 12, 2032.

These are the live video streaming links:

Link 1: https://www.pbs.org/…/watch-live-mercury-parades-between-ea…

Link 2: https://www.timeanddate.com/live/

Link 3: https://mercurytransit.gsfc.nasa.gov/2019/

Link 4: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzcmd_KQpEw

Continue reading “Watch Online Live Stream the Rare Transit of Mercury on November 11, 2019”
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7 years ago June 2012 Transit of Venus

Exactly 7 years ago today, on June 6, 2012, Venus passed in front of the Sun from Brunei Darussalam. This phenomenon knows as Venus Transit won’t occur for more than 100 years, the next one is on 2117 Dec 11.

The rare transit of Venus through a telescope from Brunei Darussalam (Photo by Hj Mahadi bin Tahir)

Photo by Hj Mahadi, President of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam.

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Istiwa Adzam to check Kiblat on May 28

Bandar Seri Begawan – On May 28 every year, at 5:16 pm local Brunei time (09:16 UT), the sun will be precisely overhead (at Zenith) in Makkah and exactly above the Kaabah. At that instance, the Sun in other areas will be directly aligned to the direction of Kiblat.

This phenomenon known as istiwa adzam is useful as an easy Islamic astronomical method to determine the exact direction of prayers (Kiblat) where only half part of the world that receives the daylight can apply this method.

Continue reading “Istiwa Adzam to check Kiblat on May 28”
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2019 Dec 26 Annular Solar Eclipse: ‘Ring of Fire’ in Borneo, Brunei merely misses it will see partial eclipse

By Hazarry bin Haji Ali Ahmad
The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam

Bandar Seri Begawan – A perfect  alignment of the Earth-Moon-Sun bodies will occur on December 26, 2019, resulting in a spectacular annular solar eclipse visible in few cities of Saudi Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Borneo and the Pacific Ocean .

Distinct parts of a Moon’s shadow on the Earth – Antumbra and Penumbra. A bright ring is visible around the eclipsing bodies from area of Antumbra. An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers the Sun’s center, leaving the Sun’s visible outer edges to form a “ring of fire” or annulus around the Moon. (Photo Source: timeanddate.com)
Continue reading “2019 Dec 26 Annular Solar Eclipse: ‘Ring of Fire’ in Borneo, Brunei merely misses it will see partial eclipse”
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PABD promotes astronomy, holds Solar Observation

Bandar Seri Begawan – The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam organized a solar observation to promote astronomy and educate members of the public on Tuesday (11 September 2018) morning.

Astronomy enthusiasts gathered at the car park of the International Convention Centre in Berakas from 10 am to 1 p.m.  to view the Sun through solar filters. The event was the first time in Brunei being organized for the public that employed the use of a special Hydrogen Alpha-telescope, which makes solar prominences and flares observable. Continue reading “PABD promotes astronomy, holds Solar Observation”

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Falak Application: Using Shadow to Determine Kiblat Direction on May 28

Above: Facing about west of Brunei, the method of determining the Kiblat using shadow of vertical column during the “istiwa adzam” in Makkah.
Above: Facing about west of Brunei, the method of determining the Kiblat using shadow of vertical column during the “istiwa adzam” in Makkah.

Bandar Seri Begawan – On May 28 every year, at 5:16 pm local Brunei time (09:16 UT), the sun will be precisely overhead (at Zenith) in Makkah and exactly above the Kaabah. At that instance, the Sun in other areas will be directly aligned to the direction of Kiblat.

This phenomenon known as “istiwa adzam” is useful as an easy Islamic astronomical method to determine the exact direction of prayers (Kiblat).  Only half part of the world that receives the daylight can apply this method.

Light areas of the world (daylight) will be able determine the Kiblat using the sun on May 28 at 5.18 pm Brunei Time.
Light areas of the world (daylight) will be able determine the Kiblat using the sun on May 28 at 5.16 pm Brunei Time.

In a year, the sun will be directly above the Kaabah twice, on every 28th May at 5:16 pm and again on July 16th at 5:28 pm Brunei time.

Follow the following ways to check the Kiblat from your area:

1. You must use a straight objects such as a pole or side of the house. It must be vertical which must be checked with a weight tied to a thread (plumbline).

2. The object must not be in places under shade, such as under a tree or in the house. It must be placed in areas that receive direct sunlight, for example, in a spacious yard.

3. Exactly at 5:16 pm May 28, the shadow’s line produced by the sun is the Kiblat direction which is facing toward the sun.

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Astronomy Application: An Easy Way to Determine Kiblat Direction on July 16

Facing west of Brunei, the method of determining the Kiblat using shadow of column during the "istiwa adzam" in Makkah.
Facing west of Brunei, the method of determining the Kiblat using shadow of column during the “istiwa adzam” in Makkah.

Above: Facing west of Brunei, the method of determining the Kiblat using shadow of column during the “istiwa adzam” in Makkah.

Bandar Seri Begawan – On July 16 of each year, at 5:28 pm, the sun will be at Zenith and exactly above the Kaabah, Makkah.

This phenomenon known as “istiwa adzam” can be used by Muslims from almost all over the world as an easy Islamic astronomical method to determine the exact direction of Kiblat.

In a year, the sun will be directly above the Kaabah twice, on every 28th May at 5:16 pm and again on July 16th at 5:28 pm Brunei time.

Follow the following ways to check the Qiblah from your area:

1. You must use a straight objects such as a pole or side of the house. It must be vertical by checking with weights tied to a thread (plumbline).

2. The object must not be in places under shade, for example do not put under the tree or in the house. However, it must be be placed in areas that receive direct sunlight, for example, in a spacious yard.

3. Exactly at 5:28 pm July 16, the line shadow produced by the sun is the Kiblat direction which is facing toward the sun.