REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The rare "super blue blood" moon phenomenon has been visible here on Wednesday since 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time. The rare total lunar eclipse could also be witnessed for hours in several cities across the country.
According to Antara's observation in Jakarta, the total eclipse was still visible without using any binocular, although the sky was slightly foggy. The eclipse in Jakarta started to appear at 7 p.m., but was shortly covered by clouds at 7.16 p.m. The moon starts to be completely covered from 7.51 p.m. to 20.29 pm, and the total eclipse was over at 9.08 p.m.
Multiple exposure photograph of total lunar eclipse seen from Warung Buncit area, South Jakarta Selatan, on Wednesday (Jan 31).
The Chairwoman of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati revealed that the rare phenomenon occurs once in 150 years, and the rare total eclipse will only be visible in certain locations. She explained that the super moon, blue moon, and blood moon are actually different eclipse phenomena.
However, now, the super moon (when the moon appeared to be bigger and brighter), the blue moon (a second full moon in a month), and a blood moon (a red eclipse) will coincide for the first time since 152 years ago in 1866. The previous super blue blood moon lasted for 20.2 minutes, she added.
Super blue blood moon seen from Warung Buncit area, South Jakarta, on Wednesday (Jan 31).
"In order to enjoy the rare celestial trifecta, we have to set up a special venue at the Ancol Beach, North Jakarta," Karnawati noted on Wednesday.
Apart from the special venue, the agency will also broadcast the super blue blood moon live via Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, as well as the official website of "bmkg.go.id." The live-streaming of the eclipse, she said, is done considering the traffic that may occur during the eclipse.
"We have live-streamed the total eclipse, so that people would enjoy the moon with their gadgets," she remarked.
The agency, she added, also has prepared several observation posts in Makassar, Ambon, and other regions across the country. The chairwoman called on researchers and other people to not only view but also further study the rare super blue blood moon.