Annular Solar Eclipse of June 21, 2020 Summary

MMAO observation of the annular eclipse of June 21, 2020

As the Ailangs school is not yet in session, and the boarding students not yet returned to campus due to COVID-19, ambassadors Zacharia, Eliona, Pendaeli, OSEO Board member Thomas Mbise, and just a few local students came together at the Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory (maintaining relative safe distance) to observe the Annular Solar Eclipse of June 21, 2020.

While we were challenged by the cloud cover, it opened up a few times to enable us to view the movement of the Moon relative to the face of the Sun a number of times. We were able to post a series of photos to our Facebook event, as also shared here.

During the event we enjoyed watching live feeds from astronomy clubs across Africa, as hosted by the African Astronomical Society (AfAS). And for all the resources compiled (a book and Android app translated into multiple languages, posters, notices, and more) we thank the expert hands and dedicated effort of Niruj of AfAS, Susan and Chu of the Traveling Telescope project, Dr. Jiwaji of the Open University of Tanzania; Sivuyile, Cedric, and Thembela of the South African Astronomical Observatory, and Mponda, Zacharia and the Ambassadors of MMAO, and so many more!

This was exciting for the opportunity to view such a splendid celestial event, and equally exciting to see people from so many countries working together for the celebration of science, education, and astronomy.


The final two images in this gallery are from the Traveling Telescope project in Kenya.

African Astronomical Society Eclipse Resources

African Astronomical Society The African Astronomical Society is coordinating a pan-African public campaign for the 21 June solar eclipse in collaboration with outreach experts across the continent. It has made several resources available in Kiswahili, Amharic, and English.

All resources are free for download and to be shared widely. MMAO is proud to have played a part in translation, orchestration, and weather permitting—a live broadcast from the observatory in Meru, Arusha, Tanzania.
 

Find here a summary of the resources available to learn about and then safely observe the annular solar eclipse Sunday, June 21. As noted on the website Time and Date, “The annular phase of this solar eclipse is visible from parts of Africa including the Central African Republic, Congo, and Ethiopia; south of Pakistan and northern India; and China. Weather permitting, people in these areas will see the characteristic ring of fire.”

Local Type: Partial Solar Eclipse, in Arusha
Begins: Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 6:46 am
Maximum: Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 7:46 am 0.62 Magnitude
Ends: Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 8:55 am
Duration: 2 hours, 9 minutes

Live Broadcasts
If you live in a part of the world that will not be able to see the eclipse, or if the weather in your region is not cooperating, you can watch the eclipse live

Handbook for Africa: Annular Solar Eclipse 2020
This project was made possible by the Science Stars Magazine in design, Mponda Malozo and Zacharia Mjungu of the Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory and Ingo Koll for multiple language translations, and Dr. Noorali Jiwaji in proofreading. Download the book for free!

Android App in Kiswahili
The Annular solar Eclipse App in Kiswahili is available for free download from the Google Play Store. This app is useful to learn about the eclipse timings and visibility for your location or anywhere else in the world, as well as provide some basic information on eclipses in general and safe ways of viewing it. Download the app from Google Play Store

How to Make your Own Solar Viewer
This DIY video on how to make a solar viewer from Susan and Daniel-Chu with the Traveling Telescope project can be viewed at YouTube.

Podcast about the Annular Solar Eclipse
A podcast about the eclipse by Cosmic Savannah, Alemiye Mamo, Prosperity Simpemba, and Niruj Ramanujam can be viewed now!

AfAS Press Release
The African Astronomical Society has issued a press release. You may read it now:
www.africanastronomicalsociety.org/afas-press-release-on-the-annular-solar-eclipse-2/

To learn, more visit the AfAS Annual Solar Eclipse page hosts the Handbook for Africa, a 7-poster series, an Android app that offers information about the eclipse, and a list of live webcasts from around the world.” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>African Astronomical Society webpage for the Annual Solar Eclipse of June 21, 2020.

On Observing the Solar Eclipse in Tanzania

MMAO Eliatosha with students, viewing an eclipse

Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory’s Eliatosha Maleko has prepared a brief introduction On Observing the Solar Eclipse in Tanzania. This document is presented in both Kiswahili and in English.

“Kawaida, tukio la kupatwa kwa jua hujitokeza takriban mara mbili kwa mwaka, wakati Mwezi, Jua na Dunia ziko kwenye mstari wa moja kwa moja. Wakati wa kupatwa kwa jua Mwezi hutembea kati ya Dunia na Jua, ikitoa kivuli katika sehemu ya uso wa Dunia.”

“Typically, solar eclipse event occurs about two times in a year, when the Moon, the Sun and the Earth are in a straight line. During the eclipse the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow across a portion of the surface of the Earth.”

Download the PDF for free!

Annular Solar Eclipse Android Application in Kiswahili

Annual Solar Eclipse Android App in Kiswahili

In preparation for the annular solar eclipse event on 21st June 2020, the Mount Meru Astronomical Observatory in Arusha, in collaboration with the African Astronomical Society and Alok Mandavgane for the Astronomical Society of India, have enhanced the Annular Solar Eclipse Android app for use in East Africa.

The App for the first time in history is accessible in Kiswahili to over 150 million native Swahili speakers mainly in the central, eastern and southern African countries. The annular solar eclipse event shall be visible in most of these countries including Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda where Swahili is widely spoken.

The Annular solar Eclipse App is now available for free download from the Google Play in Kiswahili. This app is useful to find out the eclipse timings and visibility for your location or anywhere else in the world, as well as provide some basic information on eclipses in general and safe ways of viewing it.

You can download the app from Google Play Store

Annual Solar Eclipse Android App in Kiswahili

Are you ready for the solar eclipse on June 21?

Eclipse transition by Kai Staats

On Sunday, June 21, we will (weather permitting) enjoy an annular solar eclipse!

As noted on the website Time and Date, “The annular phase of this solar eclipse is visible from parts of Africa including the Central African Republic, Congo, and Ethiopia; south of Pakistan and northern India; and China. Weather permitting, people in these areas will see the characteristic ring of fire.”

Local Type: Partial Solar Eclipse, in Arusha
Begins: Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 6:46 am
Maximum: Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 7:46 am 0.62 Magnitude
Ends: Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 8:55 am
Duration: 2 hours, 9 minutes

More information, charts, diagrams, and animations, available at:
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2020-june-21

For information specific to the Arusha location:
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/tanzania/arusha

For further information, diagrams, and explanations visit the African Astronomical Society’s on-line resources for the June 21, 2020 Annular Solar Eclipse.

MMAO students watching an eclipse

Distance Learning Update, June 6, 2020

“I am very happy to send many greetings and appreciation from my head teacher and staff members for the great support [and] funds from [the] donors that help to facilitate learning during this hard time of pandemic virus COVID-19 for Tanzania students.

First of all my head teacher and other members of the staff are very happy and excited for what we’re doing because during this time, every one, including institutions in many countries all over the world were without knowing [how] to assist students. But for us it [has] become possible. Therefore they are proud of all of you who make this to happen.

[In a recent] staff meeting the big issue [concerned] ways that we could assist students at this time of COVID-19. We also discuss how MMAO via [various] donors managed to make it possible. Here the head teacher explained that he discussed this matters with government officials, [in particular] the District Officer where by he was very impressed with how we managed to do it. The District officer asked for the web link where by he managed to see many educational packages as we had prepared for the students. He thanked every one, [and for] himself he states he was not able to think how students could be assisted when this pandemic erupted. This makes schools to ask how they could join the MMAO website in order to gain benefit for their students too.

Further more, as from my last update [to this website], the some parents managed to link to our website and download packages for their students, [while for others] the headteacher tells them that printed packages will also be ready for them to pick-up on 4 June. [The students] came to pick them up. Therefore we promised them to prepare another package soon, if funds will be available.

Lastly but not least, send many thanks to all who make it to happen in Tanzania.

Asante Sana.” –Eliatosha Maleko, MMAO Ambassador and teacher at Ilburo Elementary School