President Jokowi Observe Solar Eclipse at Bogor Palace

Indonesian Muslims perform prayers during the eclipse in Surabaya. — Indonesian Muslims perform prayers during the solar eclipse in Surabaya.

Jakarta, 01 Jumadil Akhir 1437/10 Maret 2016 (MINA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo watched the partial solar eclipse, when the Moon only partially covers the Sun’s disc, at the Bogor Palace, about 60 km south of here, on Wednesday morning.

President Widodo uploaded his picture while observing the solar eclipse. The president wore a sarong, long-sleeved white shirt, and special glasses while witnessing the extraordinary natural phenomenon, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) reported, quoting Antara News.

“Witnessing a solar eclipse at Bogor Palace. This is a sign of the greatness of God,” President Widodo stated through his Twitter account on Wednesday.

Earlier, Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla had observed the total solar eclipse (TSE) along with the local people in Kotapulu, Sigi District, Central Sulawesi.

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“For the younger generation, a natural phenomenon of this kind is routine and could produce new theories,” Kalla stated.

Kalla said he was highly impressed after witnessing the TSE, which lasted for two minutes and two seconds, starting at 8:37 a.m. Central Indonesian Standard Time (Wita).
Public enthusiasm

Meanwhile, some 10 thousand visitors flocked to the Planetarium and Observatory located at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Art Center, Central Jakarta, here on Wednesday morning to watch the partial solar eclipse.

“It is a holiday due to which the number of visitors has reached more than 10 thousand,” Eko Wahyu Wibowo, head of the planetarium unit of the Jakarta Education Office, stated.

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The location was crowded, and the roads surrounding the center were congested.

Despite the publics enthusiasm, the planetarium only provided 4.7 thousand special glasses to watch the solar eclipse.

Some of the visitors had queued up since 2 a.m. local time to ensure that they would be able to get the special glasses.

Wibowo was pleased that the sky over Jakarta was clear, and the process of the partial eclipse could be watched closely.

In Jakarta, the eclipse began at 6:19:20 a.m. local time and ended at 8:31:42 a.m. local time. The peak of the eclipse occurred at 7:21:32 a.m. local time.

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The shadow of the TSE fell over 12 of Indonesias 34 provinces, stretching some five thousand kilometers from east to west, before heading across the Pacific Ocean.

The TSE was visible for between one and a half to three minutes in most places, while the entire process of the eclipse lasted for more than two hours.

A TSE occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow (the umbra) on Earth. During a total eclipse of the Sun, a Supermoon, which is a full Moon or a new Moon at its closest point to Earth, covers the entire disk of the Sun. (R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)