INDONESIA TO WITNESS RARE SUPER BLUE BLOOD MOON ECLIPSE by Fardah

  Jakarta, Jan 31, 2018 (Antara) - Indonesia will witness a super blue blood moon eclipse on Jan 31 from around 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB), with the peak from 8:29 p.m. to 9:07 p.m. WIB.

        This spectacular lunar event, a rare natural phenomenon that had occurred 152 years ago, features the second full moon of the month, also known as the Blue Moon. The event will coincide with a total lunar eclipse, which is often referred to as a "blood moon" since the moon turns a reddish or copper color when it passes through the Earth's shadow, according to Space.com.

        Furthermore, the Jan 31 full moon occurs during perigee, the moon's closest approach to Earth in a single orbit, which means that its diameter will appear about seven percent larger and 14 percent brighter than usual, making it a super moon. Super moons have been blamed for everything from madness to flooding.

       This is the first time in over 150 years that the three lunar events will coincide, according to a statement from NASA.

        The full moon on Jan 31 is the second one to occur in 2018, after the first on January 2, 2018. Hence, the second one is called the Blue Moon. However, the total lunar eclipse is the first to occur this year. In 2018, Indonesia will witness two total lunar eclipses, respectively on Jan 31 and July 28.

        In Indonesia, the best locations to watch the super blue blood moon and the total lunar eclipse are Bandung, Sumedang, and Garut in West Java Province; Pasuruan in East Java Province; Biak in Papua Province; Pontianak in West Kalimantan Province; and Bukittinggi in West Sumatra Province.

        In fact, the super blue blood moon and lunar eclipse can be seen across Indonesia if the skies are clear and not covered by clouds.

SIGI GOES INTERNATIONAL, THANKS TO TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE by Fardah

Jakarta, March 11, 2016 (Antara) -  The March 9 total solar eclipse (TSE) proved to be a blessing for the Sigi District located in Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, as it resulted in international publicity for the area.

         A large number of tourists and Western scientists thronged the district to watch the spectacular natural phenomenon
    The province received some three thousand tourists, most of them arriving in Sigi, to observe the TSE as the district was considered one of the best viewing spots for the event.

         Sigi has four observation points, respectively, located in  Ngatabaru, Kotapulu, Pakuli, and Wayu Matantimali villages.

         District Head of Sigi Irwan Lapata expressed optimism that the number of tourists visiting his region would increase significantly this year, thanks to the TSE.

         During the TSE that occurred on March 9 morning, thousands of local villagers, domestic and foreign tourists, including those from Iran, Vice President M Jusuf Kalla, and Western scientists as well as Dutch physicist and astronaut André Kuipers gathered in a football field in Kotapulu, Sigi, to witness the extraordinary phenomenon.  

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE THRILLS WATCHERS ACROSS INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, March 9, 2016 (Antara) - A solar eclipse visible in most parts of Indonesia, either totally or partly, thrilled and satisfied millions of Indonesians who watched the rare natural phenomenon from almost anywhere they could--homes, football fields, beaches, hilltops, temples, bridges, and planetariums, on the morning of March 9.

         The spectacular phenomenon that attracted foreign tourists and scientists to come to Indonesia, moved many Muslim watchers who spontaneously chanted "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest) repeatedly.

         As recommended by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), almost every mosque, big and small, across the country was crowded with worshipers who performed special eclipse prayers.

       The shadow of the total solar eclipse (TSE) fell over 12 of Indonesia's 34 provinces, stretching some five thousand kilometers from east to west, before heading across the Pacific Ocean.

         While in most parts of Indonesia, such as Java Island, the solar eclipse was visible partly, at certain places from 80 to over 90 percent.

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE MOMENTUM TO BOOST INDONESIA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY by Fardah

Jakarta, March 3, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia is the starting point and the best spot to watch a total solar eclipse (TSE) that will occur on the morning of March 9, 2016.

        A TSE happens when the Moon comes between the Sun and the 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.

        The forthcoming TSE is considered very rare as it is believed that another total solar eclipse will return only after a century, though some say in the next 350 years.

         Being the major path of totality, Indonesia will be eager to use the momentum for the extraordinary and spectacular natural phenomenon to boost its tourism industry, by luring as many foreign tourists, scientists and astronomy lovers, as possible to watch from its islands.

         The TSE will be visible for some two to three minutes in 45 cities and districts in 12 provinces across Indonesia.

PROVINCES GEAR UP FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TOURS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Feb 27, 2016 (Antara) - The upcoming total solar eclipse (TSE) on March 9 will be visible for around two to three minutes in 45 cities and districts in 12 provinces.

         These 12 Indonesian provinces are Bengkulu, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jambi, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku.

         The local regions are enthusiastically working to use the momentum of the rare and spectacular natural phenomenon to attract as many tourists as possible.

         It is believed that another total solar eclipse will return only in the next 100 years, though some say in the next 350 years.

         Central Sulawesi is expecting at least 10 thousand foreign tourists to arrive for the TSE, according to the province's Governor Longki Djanggola.

AL-MUNAWAR KAMPONG GEARING UP FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TOUR by Fardah

Palembang, S Sumatra, Feb 24 , 2016 (Antara) - Palembang is expected to emerge as one of the favorite cities catering to tourists and scientists wanting to watch the total solar eclipse scheduled to occur on March 9 this year.          The city administration has been gearing up to facilitate the visitors in witnessing the very rare and spectacular phenomenon as well to explore various interesting tourism sites in the capital of South Sumatra Province.          Palembang is a multi-ethnic city where Malays, Javanese and those of Chinese and Arab descent have been living harmoniously and peacefully for hundreds of years.          It has the potential to develop religious, culinary, shopping and historical tourism attractions.          The city's icon, Ampera Bridge, will remain closed for public vehicles on the day of the eclipse, facilitating the pedestrians to observe the eclipse from the vantage point on the bridge freely and clearly.      Not far from the bridge, there is the little-known Al-Munawar kampong, an old Arab quarter which has a vibrant Islamic environment and a distinctive culture.

PALEMBANG ENTHUSIASTIC TO WELCOME TOURISTS DURING TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 15 , 2016 (Antara) - The South Sumatra administration has formulated plans to organize various attractive activities coinciding with the total solar eclipse (TSE) expected to occur on the morning of March 9, 2016.   
   The province will organize among other things a glowing night run, a supernatural community ritual, cultural performances, an international photography festival, a 30-meter-long barongsai show and an educational tour for students, organized jointly with the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).

        The head of the South Sumatra Tourism and Cultural Office, Irene Camelyn Sinaga, has said the tourism office will also facilitate guests and take them to certain locations specially designated to watch the total solar eclipse.

        The city's icon, Ampera Bridge, will remain closed for public vehicles on the day of the eclipse, facilitating the pedestrians to observe the total solar eclipse from the vantage point on the bridge freely and clearly.  

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE EXPECTED TO HELP ACHIEVE INDONESIA'S TOURISM TARGETS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Jan 27, 2016 (Antara)- Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli on January 25 chaired a meeting to discuss preparations for organizing various cultural events to coincide with the Total Solar Eclipse (STE) occurrence on March 9 this year.
    This rare and spectacular natural phenomenon should serve as a momentum to boost Indonesia's tourism industry, according to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya who was present in the coordination meeting which was also attended by regional administration heads.

         The minister is optimistic that the TSE tours, cultural events, festivals and adventurous activities to be organized in many regions would help the government achieve its targets of receiving 12 million foreign tourists and 260 million domestic travelers this year.    

INDONESIA MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR MARCH 9 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE by Fardah

 Jakarta, Jan 20, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia is set to welcome tourists and scientists keen on witnessing the spectacular total solar eclipse, with the path of its shadow crossing Indonesia on the morning of March 9, 2016.

       A total solar eclipse occurs when the Sun is completely covered by the Moon that passes between the Earth and Sun at a point in its elliptical orbit when it is relatively close to the Earth, according to information on http://moonblink.info.

       The moon casts a shadow when it passes between the Earth and Sun. The umbral part of the shadow (the umbra) is an area where the Sun is totally obscured by the Moon. During a total eclipse, the Moon is very close to the Earth, thus part of the umbra falls upon the Earth.

       In technical terms, its magnitude is greater than or equal to 1.000. People in those parts of the Earth, within the umbra, are able to witness the Sun's face completely hidden by the Moon, resulting in a total eclipse of the Sun, according to information on the moonblink website.

       This rare and spectacular event will be visible from a path of totality up to 155 kilometers (km), or 96.3 miles wide, creating a dramatic spectacle for millions of people present on the path of totality in Indonesia, who will see the sun totally eclipsed for as much as three minutes.