See lunar eclipse tomorrow

See lunar eclipse tomorrow

JAKARTA (JP): An astronomer has invited people in Java, Sumatra, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan to watch a full lunar eclipse at dawn tomorrow.

Moedji Raharto, a senior researcher at the Bandung-based Bosscha Observatorium, said the rare moment will last for three hours and 38 minutes.

The natural phenomenon will start at 5:21 a.m. and finish at 8:59 a.m. The full eclipse will occur from 6:27 a.m. through 7:53 a.m., he said as reported by the Antara news agency.

"The eclipse is unique in that it begins at dawn and will continue until after the sun goes up," said the chairman of the school of astronomy of the Bandung Institute of Technology.

The eclipse can be seen the longest, that is one hour and 17 minutes -- including an 11-minute full eclipse, in Sumatra's northern tip of Aceh.

In Java and Kalimantan, people will see it for three minutes in Palangkaraya and 34 minutes in Jakarta before the moon sets in the west, according to Moedji.

He said it is not dangerous to watch the eclipse with the naked eyes.

He said the eclipse would be somewhat unexceptional because it would be daylight and the stars would have disappeared. (pan)