Thursday 18 / April / 2024
Muscat: Those who live in areas near Qarn Al Alam, Manah, Adam, Al Ashkarah, Muhut, Al Khauf and the Masirah Islands will be able to see a total solar eclipse, early in the morning of 26 December, while those who live in the rest of the country can enjoy a partial eclipse.
Those who wish to watch the eclipse from the best possible view can contact the Astronomical Society of Oman that has set up a special event for this occasion. The event is part of the society’s Annular Eclipse Project 2019, which is a national project organised by them in collaboration with several government and private entities. The project, which contains several promotional and awareness campaigns, also features several activities to observe the annual solar eclipse, which will occur in Oman on December 26.
According to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, the eclipse is expected to begin over Saudi Arabia and pass over parts of Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, after which it will enter Oman around 2:30 am Universal Coordinated Time (6:30 am local time), in the form of a partial eclipse. The annular eclipse is scheduled to begin around 3:35 am UTC (7:35 am local time), will reach maximum eclipse at 3:37 am (7:37 am local time), before ending a minute later. The end of the partial eclipse will take place at 4:53 am Universal Coordinated Time (8:53 am local time).
It will then pass over the southern areas of India, before heading to Indonesia and Malaysia, and the lower segment of the Philippines, before ending over the Pacific Ocean. > A6
Those who live in areas near Qarn Al Alam, Manah, Adam, Al Ashqarah, Muhut, Al Khauf and the Masirah Islands will be able to see a total solar eclipse, while those who live in the rest of the country can enjoy a partial eclipse.
“From all areas of Oman, people will be able to watch the solar eclipse,” said a spokesman from the Oman Astronomical Society. “But the people who live in the above areas can enjoy a complete solar eclipse. The others will only be able to watch a partial solar eclipse.”
As part of this camp, many activities have been organised, including a promotional tourism campaign, an astrophotography exhibition in 2020, nationwide public observation activities, an astronomical camp for the hearing impaired, an educational awareness programme, and an awareness campaign on safely observing an eclipse. In addition, study and research into the phenomenon behind solar eclipses will be conducted.
“We aim to create a new generation of astronomers to elevate the cultural and scientific awareness of the astronomy field in Oman, and to enhance astronomical observation skills at a national level,” added the member from the Oman Astronomical Society. “This will help promote scientific tourism in Oman, and make it one of the best sites to observe the annual solar eclipse of 2019.”
“We also aim to educate society members and make them aware of safe methods to observe the eclipse and conduct public observation events to provide an opportunity to observe the solar eclipse,” he said. “We would like to encourage photographers to take pictures of the solar eclipse, and highlight Oman’s beauty, as well as promote research and study on the phenomenon of the solar eclipse.”
The annular eclipse camp organised by the society will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26. For more information, those interested can call +968 96560560. The event is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, and will take place at Ras Al Ruways in the Sharqiyah Governorate.
People in Oman who wish to watch the solar eclipse that will take place over Oman on December 26, 2019 can contact the Astronomical Society of Oman that has set up a special event for this occasion.
The event is part of the society’s Annular Eclipse Project 2019, which is a national project organised by them in collaboration with several government and private entities.
The project, which contains several promotional and awareness campaigns, also features several activities to observe the annual solar eclipse, which will occur in Oman on December 26.
According to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, the eclipse is expected to begin over Saudi Arabia and pass over parts of Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE, after which it will enter Oman around 2:30 am Universal Coordinated Time (6:30 am local time), in the form of a partial eclipse. The annular eclipse is scheduled to begin around 3:35 am UTC (7:35 am local time), will reach maximum eclipse at 3:37 am (7:37 am local time), before ending a minute later. The end of the partial eclipse will take place at 4:53 am Universal Coordinated Time (8:53 am local time).
Path
It will then pass over the southern areas of India, before heading to Indonesia and Malaysia, and the lower segment of the Philippines, before ending over the Pacific Ocean. Those who live in areas near Qarn Al Alam, Manah, Adam, Al Ashqarah, Muhut, Al Khauf and the Masirah Islands will be able to see a total solar eclipse, while those who live in the rest of the country can enjoy a partial eclipse. >A6
“From all areas of Oman, people will be able to watch the solar eclipse,” said a spokesman from the Oman Astronomical Society. “But the people who live in the above areas can enjoy a complete solar eclipse. The others will only be able to watch a partial solar eclipse.”
As part of this camp, many activities have been organised, including a promotional tourism campaign, an astrophotography exhibition in 2020, nationwide public observation activities, an astronomical camp for the hearing impaired, an educational awareness programme, and an awareness campaign on safely observing an eclipse. In addition, study and research into the phenomenon behind solar eclipses will be conducted.
“We aim to create a new generation of astronomers to elevate the cultural and scientific awareness of the astronomy field in Oman, and to enhance astronomical observation skills at a national level,” added the member from the Oman Astronomical Society. “This will help promote scientific tourism in Oman, and make it one of the best sites to observe the annual solar eclipse of 2019.”
“We also aim to educate society members and make them aware of safe methods to observe the eclipse and conduct public observation events to provide an opportunity to observe the solar eclipse,” he said. “We would like to encourage photographers to take pictures of the solar eclipse, and highlight Oman’s beauty, as well as promote research and study on the phenomenon of the solar eclipse.”
The annular eclipse camp organised by the society will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, December 25 and 26. For more information, those interested can call +968 96560560. The event is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, and will take place at Ras Al Ruways in the Sharqiyah Governorate.
