GATHER TO VIEW PARTIAL ECLIPSE

1,500 gather at National Mosque to view partial eclipse

2010/01/01

KUALA LUMPUR: About 1,500 star-gazers gathered at the National Mosque here in the wee hours of today to witness a partial lunar eclipse.


The eclipse started at 1.17am when the moon entered the Earth's penumbra and started passing the umbra at 2.53am.

However, due to cloudy skies, these first two stages were hardly visible for the stargazers, even through telescopes.

The group was not totally disappointed when the clouds parted and provided a clear view of the eclipse when it reached its maximum phase at 3.24am. The total eclipse lasted for just 29 minutes before the moon passed through Earth's umbra at 3.53am.

Apart from the eclipsed moon, the stargazers also had the opportunity to observe Mars and Saturn through their telescopes.

At 2.30am, the Muslims stargazers performed the "solat khusuf" (lunar eclipse prayers) in conjunction with the phenomenon.
Stargazer Muhammad Nizam Shamsury, 26, said he was a little frustrated when he could not see the two earlier phases of the eclipse, even through a telescope, due to the cloudy skies.

"I waited till the end because I wanted to know how the eclipse of the moon occurred. This is the first time I am actually seeing it," he told Bernama.

For Muhammad Ridhuan Che Alim, 27, the opportunity to witness the eclipse was the best way to spend his New Year holiday.

"I did not mind the long wait because I was so thrilled to see for myself how an eclipse occurred. It's really something worth learning about.

"Even though I'm a little disappointed for not being able to see the first two phases, the information provided by the National Space Agency (Angkasa) was sufficient," he said.

Meanwhile, Angkasa Education and Science director Azreena Ahmad said those who had missed the opportunity to witness the partial lunar eclipse, could view its recorded version at Angkasa's website www.angkasa.gov.my.

She said the eclipse would occur at least twice a year.

On Jan 15, a solar eclipse was expected to occur, she said.

Also present to witness the lunar eclipse was the Grand Imam of the National Mosque, Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad. - BERNAMA
SOURCE:
http://thestar.com.my