H

undreds of scientists from around the globe will gather in Palu in March next year to observe a solar eclipse from the Central Sulawesi provincial capital.

The Central Sulawesi administration'€™s assistant for governance, economic and welfare affairs, Bunga Elim Somba, said the local administration had been making preparations for the event, which is also expected to attract thousands of local and overseas tourists.

'€œThis event will be a big and historic moment for Central Sulawesi,'€ Bunga said.

Bunga said that prior to watching the eclipse, the administration would hold a series of events for visitors, including art performances and workshops. One of the venues set to host events, she added, was a vast camping site in Ngatabaru subdistrict, Biromaru district, Sigi regency.

Astronomers are predicting that next year'€™s solar eclipse will fall on March 9. In Indonesia, with the occurrence expected to be visible from six provinces, including South Sumatra, Bangka-Belitung and Central Sulawesi.

The researchers, many of them from the US, are scheduled to arrive in Palu in early March and leave the city a few days after the event.