| Abdul Hakiim Yakof & Daniel Lim |
PEOPLE across the country turned out in large numbers yesterday night to catch a glimpse of the much-anticipated lunar trilogy – a supermoon, a total lunar eclipse and a blue moon – a phenomenon last happened 152 years ago in 1866.
Combining a blue moon, a super moon and a total eclipse, the rare cosmic spectacle has been called a super blue blood moon.
The total lunar eclipse was visible across the country where people gathered at various locations to watch the celestial triplet.
In Brunei, the start of the eclipse was at 6.51pm while total eclipse was at 9.29pm and it ended at 10.29pm. The lunar eclipse lasted for around four hours.
Lights were switched off at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital to increase visibility as a huge crowd thronged in excitement to witness the lunar event.
The moon was covered by the Earth’s shadow completely at 8.51pm. The Survey Department under the Ministry of Develop-ment, which was equipped with four telescopes and three theodolites, provided a live projection of the lunar eclipse from one of the telescopes for the public to see.
“It’s an unexpected turnout as the weather forecast had predicted a 50 per cent chance for rain, but Alhamdulillah, the weather was clear and we saw a lot of stargazers who share the same passion,” said Vivi Rozihananissmah binti Haji Mamud, a technician at the Astronomy Unit of the Survey Department.
Pengiran Haji Jufri bin Pengiran Haji Hidup, who was seen photographing the live feed on the projector said, “It’s amazing with technology nowadays, you can see the moon’s surface and all the craters.”
Meanwhile, excitement orbit-ed around the faces of hundreds who gathered at the Menara Cendera Kenangan, Jalan Sungai, Kuala Belait, to witness the momentous occasion.
“The lunar eclipse represents an astronomical event that occurs when the Earth, moon, and the sun align in a straight line, which will see the moon being slowly darkened as the shadow of the Earth covers the moon as it travels along its orbit,” said Haji Nor Ariffin bin Haji Abdullah, Chief Survey Technician at the Belait District branch of the Survey Department.
To help disseminate the information on the lunar eclipse to the public, various instruments had been set up around the venue to observe the event, including two telescopes with one of them connected to a projector for all to see.
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