Bruneiastronomy.org

A Chance to View a Partial Lunar Eclipse on June 26

2010-06-22T00:00:00-07:00

A partial lunar eclipse will occur in Brunei’s night sky on June 26 and can be safely viewed by the public if the weather permits.

The eclipse can be viewed when the moon rises over the eastern horizon at 6:30 p.m. that evening, of which the partial lunar eclipse already begun. It will reach its maximum at 7:38 p.m. At this time, slightly more than half of the Full Moon will lie in darkness. The phenomenon will end around 9:00 p.m.

Above: Path of the Moon through the Earth's shadow during the lunar eclipse on June 26.

Brunei Witnesses Eclipse of the Sun

2010-01-15T00:00:00-07:00

Above: A little girl is trying to view the sun through a telescope.

Bandar Seri Begawan – The partial eclipse of the sun was visible in Brunei Darussalam despite of the bad weather.

An eclipse observation was held this afternoon at the Yayasan SHHB Shopping Complex in the capital organised by the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam and Survey Department from 3 pm to 6 pm.

Above: The eclipsed sun was only visibled at around 3.50 p.m. [More Photos]

The weather was partly cloudy at first, making the phenomenon viewable and witnessed by astronomy enthusiasts for only a few minute at around 3.50 p.m. Later, it remained overcast and drizzling towards the late afternoon.

The PABD Society wishes to thanks the Yayasan SHHB management, the Survey Department, the Press Media and the public for their continuous support.

Brunei to Observe Eclipse of the Sun on Jan 15

2010-01-13T00:00:00-07:00

Above: Relative position of the sun and moon.

Bandar Seri Begawan – People in Brunei will have the opportunity to witness a partial eclipse of the sun on Friday afternoon, January 15.

The phenomenon will begin when the moon made its first contact with the sun at exactly 3.45 p.m. local time.

The maximum eclipse will come at 4.42 p.m. where by about 12.8% of the Sun disk is obscured by the moon. The 1 hour and 48 minutes celestial event will end at 5.33 p.m.

Eclipse observers are advised not to look at the sun directly at any time during the eclipse as it may damage the eyes.

The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam in liaison with the Survey Department will hold a public eclipse-watching at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex on January 15, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Brunei Partial Solar Eclipse 15 January 2010

2010-01-09T04:00:00-07:00

Local Partial Solar Eclipse, for BSB, Brunei Darussalam.

Site information

Latitude:	4° 54' 48" N
Longitude:	114° 56' 47" E
Height above sea level:	10 metres
Time zone:	8h ahead of UT

Eclipse Type
The eclipse is partial from this location.

Timing Information

A. Beginning of partial phase

Time:	2010 Jan 15 15:45:07 [15:45]*
PA of centre of Moon:	286.2°
Sun's altitude:	35.5°

B. Maximum eclipse

Time:	2010 Jan 15 16:42:22 [16:42]*
Eclipse magnitude:	0.235
Moon:Sun size ratio:	0.912
PA of centre of Moon:	328.5°
Sun's altitude:	22.8°

C. End of partial phase

Time:	2010 Jan 15 17:33:29 [17:33]*
PA of centre of Moon:	11.0°
Sun's altitude:	11.2°

* Suggested official eclipse timings for Brunei Darussalam.

Simulation of Partial Solar Eclipse from Brunei Click Here [3.5 MB Video, requires Quicktime]

Local Public Observation (Tentative)
Date: 15 January 2010 (Friday)
Time: 14:30 - 18:00
Location: Yayasan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex, BSB.
Organiser: The Astonomical Society of Brunei Darussalam.

Worldwide Visibility

Click to view a larger map.

Warnings/Safety Looking at the Sun is dangerous at any time when any part of the brilliant visible disk of the Sun (its photosphere) is visible. Looking directly at the eclipse can badly damage your eyes. It is NOT safe to view the eclipse through sunglasses, CDs, binoculars, a telescope without a filter, or even through a camera.

Techniques of Viewing

Solar Filter Equipped Instrument
Pinhole Camera
Solar Projection through Binocular/Telescope
Eclipse's reflection in the water (not recommended)

Last Solar Eclipse 2009 July 22(Partial)
Next Solar Eclipse 2012 May 20 (Partial, begins at sunrise)

Super Celestial New Year show over Brunei Skies

2010-01-02T00:00:00-07:00

View more photos here

Bandar Seri Begawan - A Rare partial eclipse of the moon greeted the New Year 2010 in many parts around the world.

In Brunei, the celestial phenomenon was clearly visible between 2.53 am until 3.53 am on January 1 with fairly cloudy skies.

Astronomically, the lunar eclipse was the result of a direct alignment of the cosmic bodies — the Sun, Earth and Moon – and the Moon passes into the cone of shadow cast by the Earth

Partial Lunar Eclipse 01 Jan 2010

2009-12-28T00:00:00-07:00

Bandar Seri Begawan - A partial eclipse of the moon will occur at the early hours on this new year's day. It will be visible from Brunei provided that the weather is good.

The eclipse will officially commence when the moon slides into the Earth's shadow (Penumbra) at 01:17 am local Brunei Time. However, most observers will not be able to visually detect the eclipse as the penumbral shadow is less dark.

At 02:53 am, the moon will enter the umbra shadow and only then the phenomenon can be observed. During the maximum phase, at 03:24 am, only about 8.2 percent of the moon will be covered in shadow.

The moon will leave the Umbra at 03:53 am. The last stage of the eclipse will be at 05:28 am when the moon leaves the Penumbra.

There will be no eclipse observation in this country for the public. However, eclipse watchers can still observe and enjoy the event without any special instruments and telescopes from their backyards.

For many local photographers who wish to capture the phenomenon can follow this useful website: http://www.mreclipse.com/LEphoto/LEphoto.html

Aidil Adha On Nov 28

2009-11-18T00:00:00-07:00

Brunei Times - Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam will celebrate Hari Raya Aidil Adha on Saturday, November 28, which corresponds with the 10th day of Zulhijjah, as confirmed by Syariah Court Judge Dato Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Metussin Hj Baki.

The first day of the month of Zulhijjah starts tomorrow, November 19, while the month of Zulkaedah will have 30 days. Hari Raya Aidil Adha prayers will be held on November 28 in mosques nationwide beginning at 7.30am.

This was decided by the Syar'e judges and religious officers at the Ministry of Religious Affairs as well as officers from the Survey Department at the Ministry of Development based on the absence of the new moon for the month of Zulhijjah.

Massive Shooting Stars on Nov 18

2009-11-01T00:00:00-07:00

Above: Viewing East from Brunei at 3 a.m.on early Wednesday, 18 Nov 2009, meteor watchers should be able to view the Leonids meteors of radiant at the constellation Leo.

Bandar Seri Begawan - Wake up and look up the sky this November! It is the annual Leonids meteor shower show and this year, a very strong display will favor those living across most of central and eastern Asia.

On early dawn of 18 November 2009 (Brunei time), astronomers predicted an intense show of the Leonids. Also, new moon means that no interference from the moonlight thus making a perfect condition to observe the cosmic display.

"We expect the Leonids to produce upwards of 500 meteors per hour," says Bill Cooke of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. "That's a very strong display."

A Galilean Night at ISB

2009-10-23T07:00:00-07:00

Above: Galilean Night at ISB.

Bandar Seri Begawan – Many students, their parents and teachers of the International School of Brunei (ISB), Berakas, have celebrated the Galilean Night this evening. The event took place at the school compounds with full of activities like planetarium display, skywatching, astronomy presentations, building a telescope, making a sundial and many other science experiments.

The event was organised by the school and jointly supported by the Brunei Survey Department and the Astronomical society of Brunei Darussalam.

Galilean nights were celebrated world widely on 22 to 24 of October this year to commemorate Galileo Galilei’s first observation of Jupiter through a telescope 400 years ago. Promoted by the International Astronomical Union, the aim of the night was to give people a chance to gaze the night sky through a telescope. More information on Galilean Nights here.

More Photos

Syawal 1430 New Moon Crescent is not Sighted

2009-09-19T13:00:00-07:00

Some PABD members tried to sight the new moon of Syawal at Bukti Agok, on the weekend of September 19, 2009.

It was very cloudy.

The moon was not visible to the naked eyes nor through a telescope. This is largely due to thick clouds over the western horizon.

A telescope pointing towards the direction of the moon.