Jakarta –
Astronomical phenomena are always awaited by sky lovers. Especially if phenomenon of astronomy That rare, they have to wait decades to reappear.
According to the official website of the Aeronautical and Space Research Organization (ORPA) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), there are at least five of the most phenomenal rare astronomical events during 2022. Below are a summary is given.
One in four eclipses arrive in Indonesia
In 2022 there will be four eclipses, both solar and lunar. However, only one eclipse can be seen from Indonesia. Here’s a flashback.
1. Partial solar eclipse April 30/May 1, 2022
A partial solar eclipse is phenomenon of astronomy when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are in a straight line, the surface of the Sun as seen from Earth is only partially covered by the Moon.
This is because the Moon’s shadow falling on the Earth’s surface is only a penumbra/pseudo shadow, while the central umbra is outside the Earth’s surface.
Areas covered by the Moon’s penumbral shadow will experience a partial solar eclipse, while areas covered by the Moon’s umbra will experience a total solar eclipse. This eclipse can only be seen in the southeastern Pacific and parts of South America.
2. Partial solar eclipse October 25, 2022
A partial solar eclipse will occur again on October 25, 2022, but it cannot be seen directly in Indonesia.
This eclipse can only be observed in Europe (except Portugal and southern Spain), Western Russia, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, the Middle East, Greenland, Iceland, Central Asia, India and Sri Lanka.
According to the researchers’ predictions, 2023 will witness a new solar eclipse in Indonesia, namely a hybrid solar eclipse on April 20, 2023 which should coincide with the end of Ramadan 1444 H.
3. Total lunar eclipse May 16, 2022
Another eclipse that occurred this year was the total eclipse of the Moon twice. A lunar eclipse is a condition where the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, so the Moon does not receive sunlight. The first total lunar eclipse in 2022 will occur on May 16, 2022 to coincide with Vesak Day 2565 Year of the Buddha.
This natural phenomenon cannot be seen in Indonesia either, it can only be seen in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and New Zealand.
4. Total lunar eclipse November 8, 2022
The second total lunar eclipse in 2022 will occur on November 8, 2022, which will occur between 3:02 PM WIB and 8:56 PM WIB.
This time, the total lunar eclipse can be seen directly in Indonesia. The regions that can see this eclipse from the initial penumbra are Papua, West Papua, Halmahera, Central Seram, East Seram, Kai Islands, Tanimbar and Aru.
Peoples of Ternate, Tidore, Bacan Islands, Sula, West Seram, Ambon, Southwest Maluku, Sulawesi, Bali, NTB, NTT, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, parts of Central Kalimantan, parts of West Kalimantan, Sumenep, Situbondo, and Banyuwangi can see this eclipse from initial contact until the end of penumbra.
Meanwhile all over the island of Java, parts of Central Kalimantan, parts of West Kalimantan, Riau, Riau Islands, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, Jambi, Bengkulu and Lampung, the eclipse can be seen from initial full contact to the end of the twilight . So in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra and North Bengkulu regions you can witness the total lunar eclipse on November 8 from peak contact to final penumbra.
Planets aligned
The phenomenon of aligned planets it’s a rare moment every 18-19 year old. In 2022, the phenomenon of planet alignment occurs 3 times throughout the month of June. So rare and so special, this moment won’t return until 2041.
Since the beginning of June 2022, the public has been able to observe the planets Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in an in-line configuration. Researcher at the Space Research Center, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Andi Prince said this configuration appeared in three configurations.
The first pattern i.e. Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn occurred from June 4 to 15, 2022. The second pattern i.e. Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon occurred on June 16 -27, 2022. Well, the latest is the configuration of Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn on June 28-30, 2022.
Download the Year in Review 2022 report here.
(rns/fay)
