Total lunar eclipse observation Jan 31
Published on: Sunday, January 28, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: The 30-storey aluminium and glass building of Yayasan Sabah Group (YSG) Headquarters, the Menara Tun Mustapha, in Likas, will be one of the locations in the country to observe the total lunar eclipse on Jan 31.According to its Group Manager (Corporate Communications) Sam S. Karnail, YSG, together with the Sabah Stargazer Association, will be holding the event which provides an opportunity for the public to witness the total eclipse of the moon, expected to take five hours and 17 minutes. According to him, based on the earlier statement by National Space Agency (Angkasa), eclipses are taking place when the moon is rising in the eastern horizon, while in Sabah and Sarawak, this phenomenon will begin after moonrise.
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"The eclipse will start at 6.51pm on Jan 31 when the Earth's penumbra start touching the moon's face, while at 7.48pm partial moon eclipse begins where the moon is getting red. The total eclipse begins at 8.51pm where the public will see the moon completely red with the maximum eclipse phase is at 9.29 pm. This is when the moon is closest to the centre of the shadow. The overall eclipse ends at 12.08 midnight on Feb 1," he explained.A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly behind the Earth into its umbra. This can occur only when the sun, Earth and moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle.
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This total lunar eclipse is also famously known as Blood Moon, as the moon turns red, which will be fully visible in Kota Kinabalu. When the eclipse of Jan 31 is almost over, the moon had just crossed the perigee position a day earlier with a distance of 358,993 kilometres from the Earth, making this eclipse as "Supermoon Eclipse".Supermoons will occur when the moon is less than 360,000 kilometres away from the Earth and no specific equipment is required to see this phenomenon.
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"The use of telescopes and binoculars, however, will help to see more clearly. Hence, YSG, with the support of the Sabah Stargazer Association, will hold observation activities for the public to witness this phenomenon. This is also in line with the effort of the YSG management to use the iconic Menara Tun Mustapha as a civic and recreational centre for the general public," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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