Partial Solar Eclipse On Jan 15

Malaysians will have the chance to observe again a partial solar eclipse known as the annular solar eclipse this Jan 15 between 3pm and 5.45pm.
The National Space Agency (Angkasa) said in a statement that members of the public could witness up to 40 per cent of the sun that would be obscured by the moon in the north of the peninsula in the evening.
"Langkawi would be the strategic location to observe the eclipse in Malaysia with 40 per cent of the sun obscured by the moon, while the coastal areas towards west would be an ideal location to witness the final eclipse during sunset," the agency said in the statement.
The percentage of the sun obscured by the moon will be less visible from the centre of the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.
The annular solar eclipse will be visible broadly passing a path of 300km across central Africa, the Indian Ocean and East Asia, when the moon passes over the sun but is too small to cover the entire sun's disk, thus one will see an eclipse where a ring or annulus of bright sunlight surrounds the moon at the maxium phase.
Angkasa said the annular solar eclipse had occurred on Jan 26 last year and in conjunction with this year's eclipse, the agency would organise an observation programme on the eclipse from 2.30pm to 6pm at the National Planetarium on that day to give exposure and to inculcate interest in astronomy among society.
Angkasa said the public would be able to view the live webcasts of the eclipse through it website at www.angkasa.com.my from 3pm to 5.40pm.
The statement also said that the planetarium would be closed to the public from Jan 18 to March 31 for renovation and refurbishment, and will reopen on April 1.