Astronomers-to-be help record rare ring solar eclipse<\/p>\n
Text and photos by IGGP Bayu Ismoyo<\/p>\n
DUMAI, Riau (JP): A flurry of activity was seen here Saturday
\nin response to a rare event: a ring solar eclipse.<\/p>\n
A group of astronomy students from the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology were among observers who decided that Riau, one of the
\nareas along the eclipse's path, was a good spot to record the
\nphenomenon, believed to be the region's last this century.<\/p>\n
It took the students, accompanied by professor Mudji Raharto,
\ntwo days to drive from Bandung to their destination. They stopped
\nto pray and wash at mosques, and ate at restaurants along the
\nTrans-Sumatra Highway. The 20-member group arrived on Aug. 18 and
\nsplit up into five teams.<\/p>\n
Three teams set about informing the community on how to best
\nappreciate the natural wonder, while the other two teams surveyed
\nseveral sites to determine the best observation spot.<\/p>\n
They settled on two spots: Dumai's Pinangkampai Airport and
\nMakmur Bay.<\/p>\n
The community teams cooperated with schools and a local radio
\nstation, CDS to disseminate information on what causes an eclipse
\nand how to safely view one. The station put on a 90 minute live
\nbroadcast in which the students explained about the eclipse to
\ncallers from the listening audience.<\/p>\n
Some of the students made paper \"sun glasses\", or solar ray
\nfilters, for residents to view the eclipse while the whole group
\nhurriedly worked on their preparations from morning to past
\nmidnight before the eclipse was to occur early Saturday.<\/p>\n
A single question hovered over the group as dawn approached:
\nWould there be any rain or clouds obstructing their view? If so,
\nall of their efforts and the long journey would come to naught.<\/p>\n
A drizzle did begin to fall, subsiding soon before the eclipse
\nwas to come. Clouds, however, remained. Telescopes, cameras,
\ncompasses and other equipment stood ready.<\/p>\n
At 6:10, when the eclipse began, clouds still obscured the
\nview and attempts to record the phenomenon failed. Then the sun
\nslowly appeared. Then the long-awaited two minutes came: from
\n7:15 a ring-like image of the sun was recorded as the moon stood
\ndirectly between the sun and the Earth.<\/p>\n
Residents cried out \"Allahu Akbar\" (God is great) as the
\nmorning seemed to turn again to night. The young aspiring
\nastronomers, already veterans of a few eclipses, simply smiled at
\none another from their posts, saying: \"We made it.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/astronomers-to-be-help-record-rare-ring-solar-eclipse-1447893297",
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