Solar eclipse treat for stargazers

A student tests a self-made filter and looks at the sun after a joint workshop between the Hong Kong Astronomical Society and Indonesia's National Institute of Aeronautics and Space. - Reuters.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians will be able to observe a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday morning as the phenomenon sweeps across parts of Asia Pacific.     

According to the National Planetarium’s website, the partial eclipse will have a maximum overlapping of up to 87% in the southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.   

This will decrease as it moves into the northern regions of the peninsula and Sabah.    

Depending on the location, stargazers will be able to witness the phenomenon starting 7.24am on Wednesday during “first contact” when the moon’s disk will first touch the edge of the sun.   

The moon is expected to reach its maximum contact at 8.24am. The eclipse will end at 9.31am as the shadow cast by the moon slowly disappears.    

A total solar eclipse will be visible in Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and the Pacific Ocean, and will last for a total of four minutes and nine seconds.  

Stargazers are advised to use safety filters to prevent permanent eye damage.   

More information on the eclipse in Malaysia can be obtained from the National Planetarium’s website at http://planetarium.angkasa.gov.my/ which will also feature a live webcast of the event.    

The next solar eclipse in the country will be on Dec 16, 2019.

Table showing the times and places for the partial solar eclipse on March 9 taken from the National Planetarium’s website.