The rare natural phenomenon occurred over 12 out of 34 provinces in the country, including Bengkulu, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jambi, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun.
At the time of a total solar eclipse, the moons apparent diameter is larger than the suns, blocking all direct sunlight, and turning the day into darkness.
In the city of Banda Aceh, in the westernmost province of Aceh, thousands of people gathered at some multi-storied-Tsunami-evacuation buildings while others thronged the open spaces such as the Ulee Lheue beach and the Gampong Lambung green open space in the sub-district of Meuraxa to seen the natural phenomena.
The solar eclipse in Aceh was not total, and lasted from 7.15 am to 7.30am.
Thousands others, meanwhile, also crowded the Baiturahim Mosque in Ulee Lheue, to say their prayers.
In Lhokseumawe, people gathered on the beach, especially along the Peusong bay that faces the Strait of Malacca, to observe the phenomenon.
In Jayapura, in the easternmost province of Papua, around 150 residents watched the eclipse from the front yard of the TVRI television station.
Leli, an elementary school student, said she was glad she was able to see the eclipse although it was only for a short time.
"The sun looks yellow and bright but the upper part seems cut off, giving it the crescent form," she said, as she watched the eclipse in the company of her mother.
Mesak Tomasila, a resident of Merauke, said he was disappointed that there were no shops selling dark glasses to enable him to look at the eclipse.
He was, however, relieved after the BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency) personnel lent him glasses, making it possible for him to watch the eclipse.
Although he had to wait his turn to use the glasses, he was grateful he could see the process of the eclipse.
The eclipse in Jayapura lasted from 08.53am local time, peaked at 10.17 and ended at 11. 48 WIT.
In Manokwari, West Papua, people came out of their homes to see the eclipse when it happened.
In Jakarta, some 10 thousand visitors flocked the Planetarium and Observatory located at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Art Center, Central Jakarta, to watch the rare event.
It being a holiday, the number of visitors crossed even 10 thousand, Eko Wahyu Wibowo, head of the planetarium unit of the Jakarta Education Office, stated.
The venue was crowded, and the roads surrounding the center were congested.
Some of the visitors had queued up since 2 a.m. local time to ensure that they would be able to get the special glasses.
Wibowo was pleased that the sky over Jakarta was clear, and the process of the partial eclipse could be watched closely.
In Jakarta, the eclipse began at 6:19:20 a.m. local time and ended at 8:31:42 a.m. local time. The peak of the eclipse occurred at 7:21:32 a.m. local time.
Vice President M Jusuf Kalla accompanied by his wife, Mufidah, several ministers, and the Central Sulawesi governor, watched the total solar eclipse in Kotapulu, Sigi District, Central Sulawesi Province.
They arrived in the towns football field at 7:44 a.m. local time. Two big telescopes and a large screen were made available in the field to allow the crowd to watch the rare natural phenomenon clearly.
A number of foreign researchers and scientists were also present in Sigi, believed to be one of the best spots to view the total eclipse.
The Vice President also joined the special prayers on the occasion of the total solar eclipse along with thousands of local inhabitants.
Kalla said he was highly impressed after witnessing the TSE, which lasted for two minutes and two seconds, starting at 8:37 a.m. Central Indonesian Standard Time.
President Joko Widodo, meanwhile, watched the solar eclipse at the Bogor Palace on Wednesday morning.
President Widodo uploaded a picture of himself observing the solar eclipse. The president wore a sarong, a long-sleeved white shirt, and sported special glasses while witnessing the extraordinary natural phenomenon.
"Witnessing a solar eclipse at Bogor Palace. This is a sign of the greatness of God," President Widodo stated through his Twitter account on Wednesday.
Tri Rismaharini, the mayor of Surabaya, the capital of East Java province, mingled with thousands of residents along the citys Kenjeran coast to witness the solar eclipse that morning.
She was accompanied by members of the Astronomy Club and the Association of Astronomy Students in Surabaya.
She said she was pleased to witness the solar eclipse. "We hope we can learn from watching this rare natural phenomenon," she said.(*)
Reporter: Yoseph Hariyadi
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
