Cloud blocks lunar eclipse, thwarts photographers

Cloud blocks lunar eclipse, thwarts photographers

JAKARTA (JP): Moon watchers and photographers were mostly
frustrated in their efforts to view the century's last total
lunar eclipse yesterday when heavy cloud blocked the sky over
most of the city in the wee hours of the morning.

Some lucky snappers armed with zoom lenses at the Ancol
Dreamland complex in North Jakarta got a few shots of the
eclipse, which was the result of the earth being positioned
between the sun and the moon.

One news photographer expressed the frustration of many when
he said: "The annoying cloud turned my multiple-exposure shots
into garbage."

Dozens of spectators at National Monument Square in Central
Jakarta only saw part of the total eclipse, which passed Asia
yesterday.

The total eclipse lasted from 12:09 a.m. to 3:26 a.m. here as
predicted by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), the Astronomical Agency of the Bandung
Institute of Technology and the 1997 World Astronomical Calendar.

According to early estimates, there will not be another total
eclipse until mid-July 2000.

As in many other cities and towns nationwide, Moslems in
Greater Jakarta performed the Khusuf prayer followed by a sermon
at homes, prayer houses or mosques. Khusuf is a special prayer
held only during an eclipse as a way of praising God Almighty and
asking for His forgiveness.

At Istiqlal Mosque, one of the largest mosques in Asia, about
200 Moslems performed the Khusuf prayer as the eclipse began.

A staffer at the mosque was quoted by Antara as saying: "The
weather was so bad (to actually see the eclipse). But we later
decided to start the prayer a few minutes past 12 a.m., assuming
that the total eclipse had just started."

The prayer was also performed by Moslems in other cities and
villages around the country, including Sumatra, Java and
Kalimantan.

Unlike viewers in Jakarta, moon watchers in the Central
Kalimantan capital of Palangka Raya completely missed the lunar
eclipse because of thick haze covering the city's sky.

At the Lembang Observatory in West Java, however, observers,
amateur astronomers and reporters were busy recording yesterday's
eclipse. (bsr)