Rare astronomical phenomenon adorns Kuwait and the Regions skies this December

Kuwait City, Kuwait –22 December 2019:  In anticipation of the annular solar eclipse,  Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre is hosting a live planetaruim show at its award-winning Space Museum starting on Monday, 24th  of December 2019.

The show will be available for viewers till the 28th of December,2019. 

The annular solar eclipse takes place when the Moon covers the Sun's center, turning the Sun's outer circle into a ‘ring of fire’ or annulus around the Moon. During the eclipse, the moon is farther from Earth, hence appearing smaller in size.

The celestial event can be viewed in varying proportions from one region to another across some parts of Asia and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait having reached a partial 85%.  The first total eclipse that was observed in Kuwait was nearly seven decades ago in February followed by the last partial solar eclipse in 1999. The sky-watchers wonderment continues with the second annular eclipse expected to make an appearance in the skies on 21 June 2020 wich will have a bartial visibality at 61%  

In the coming years between 2020 and 2029, astronomers have predicted a total of nine solar eclipses of which three can be seen partially in Kuwait followed by the total eclipse which will occur on 20 March 2034. 

Beginning with the sunrise on Thursday, December 26 and continue until 7:48 am at a time of one hour and eight continuous minutes.
The 4,300m² Space Museum contains three galleries ranging from the Space Science, Space Exploration and Space Academy in addition to a 110 seat planetarium which narrates the story of planet earth and the universe.The futuristic Space Museum contains exhibits that allow explorers to observe galaxies, the vast cosmos and get a glimpse of some of the most important discoveries in the history of space exploration.

Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre is one the many projects developed by the Amiri Diwan to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and promote critical, creative, and interpretive thinking within Kuwaiti society through world-class exhibitions and educational public programmes.