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From water bowl to prayer, Jayapura welcomes solar eclipse
Children in Jayapura, Papua, view the shadow of the solar eclipse through a water bowl on Wednesday
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Children in Jayapura, Papua, view the shadow of the solar eclipse through a water bowl on Wednesday. (thejakartpost.com/NethyDharma Somba) (thejakartpost.com/NethyDharma Somba)
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span class="caption">Children in Jayapura, Papua, view the shadow of the solar eclipse through a water bowl on Wednesday. (thejakartpost.com/NethyDharma Somba)
Thousands of Jayapura residents in Papua flocked to Bhayangkara hill to view the solar eclipse on Wednesday, while their children enjoyed its reflection in water bowls.
The residents started flocking to the TVRI television station courtyard in Bhayangkara subdistrict at 7 a.m. Each resident was allowed to observe the rare natural phenomenon through two telescopes provided by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for 20 seconds.
Most of the children opted to enjoy the solar eclipse through water bowls as suggested by their teachers.
'My teacher said that this [method] was a safer way to view the solar eclipse,' said Andrea, an elementary school student.
Experts have warned that children should not be allowed to observe the eclipse directly as doing so may result in a condition called solar eclipse retinopathy.
Meanwhile, Muslims carried out solar eclipse prayers at several mosques. 'I am grateful to have the opportunity to witness this phenomenon and it has made me aware of the greatness of God, therefore we need to say grace,' said Nunung after joining the prayer.
Jayapura did not witness a complete eclipse, but it experienced the longest. The eclipse in Jayapua lasted for 2 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds, starting at 8:53 a.m., local time, and reaching its peak at 10:17 a.m, according to Danan Permana, the BMKG's Angkasapura station head.
