DILI, 18 april 2023 (TATOLI) – A Solar Eclipse Expedition team from Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and Vietnam has arrived in Dili and is scheduled to leave for Lautem and Viqueque to carry out activities such as Solar Eclipse Research and Public Outreach.
The team was made UP OF 19 astronomers from Vietnam, 10 each from Indonesia and Thailand, and one each from Brunei Darussalam.
The team will carry out solar eclipse research, and public outreach on the solar eclipse. The result of the research will be presented at the International Conference to be held in august 2023, in Japan.
“It will be a unique experience in measuring the total solar eclipse in Timor-Leste. Our hope is to successfully carry out both activities – research on solar eclipse and public outreach. As the weather is expected to be 50% cloudy during the eclipse time, but we hope to have the best chances to see the solar eclipse,” Team Leader, Hakim Malasan of Bosscha Observatory told reporters after a meeting with the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, in Dili.
On behalf of the team, Malasan thanked the Timorese people for their warm welcome and hospitality.
Malasan stressed that it would be okay to look directly at the complete solar eclipse for no more than 10 seconds when the total solar eclipse occurs: “This is the perfect experience you will ever have to witness. For example, there was no problem with the 1995 Solar Eclipse in Vietnam and the 2016 Eclipse in Indonesia.”
During the meeting, President Horta was delighted with the presence of astronomers in the country.
The Head of State said that apart from the scientific aspect, it was also important to raise the importance of the cultural and social aspects associated with the solar eclipse event. For instance, the reaction of the people toward the eclipse as it varies from place to place.
Thousands of tourists and a large number of astronomers will gather in Com, in Lautem municipality, and Beaço in Viqueque municipality to share knowledge and experiences while conducting the solar eclipse outreach.
A partial eclipse of magnitude 0.9809 will be visible from Dili on April 20, 2023. The maximum eclipse will be at 13:18:30 local time when 97.94% of the Sun’s surface will be covered by the Moon. Meanwhile, a total solar eclipse can be seen in the two eastern municipalities – Com in Lautém and Beaço in Viqueuqe.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
