ID :
71634
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 08:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/71634
The shortlink copeid
Darkness at dawn as solar eclipse envelops cities
New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Darkness descended soon after
dawn across large swathes of land along a narrow path
stretching from India's western state of Gujarat to
northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh as skywatchers
experienced the longest total solar eclipse of the century
this morning.
The dark shadow of the moon -- the conical shaped umbra
-- made its landfall in Gujarat at 0630 IST and raced across
the country within a span of a few minutes spreading darkness
in the path of totality.
At many places a thick cloud cover dampened the spirits
of skywatchers who had gathered to watch the celestial
spectacle.
With the sun blanked out for six minutes and 39 seconds,
this was the longest total solar eclipse to occur in the 21st
century, and will not be surpassed in duration until June 13,
2132.
In Taregna in eastern state of Bihar, touted as
the best place to watch the eclipse, thousands of
astro-enthusiasts were disappointed as clouds refused them a
glimpse of the completely eclipsed sun.
However, in Taregna, and most parts of northeast where,
clouds obscured the view of the sun, skywatchers were able to
experience the eclipse as daybreak turned to night for a few
minutes.
In Katni in central state of Madhya Pradesh, stargazers
enjoyed every moment of the celestial spectacle from atop the
Circuit House Hills for a full three minutes from 0622 IST
The group in Katni was awestruck as they saw the diamond
ring phenomenon for a few seconds just before the sun was
completely covered by the lunar shadow.
Some amateur astronomers were able to spot a few bright
stars which became visible in the momentary darkness as the
sun was completely covered giving them a magnificent view of
the Corona.
In national capital Delhi, clouds played hide-and-seek but
still astro-enthusiasts gathered at several places got a
glimpse of the sun. Eighty-three per cent of the sun dial was
obscured by the moon.The crescent sun smiled upon the capital
when the eclipse reached its maximum of 83 per cent at 0626
IST.
Lakhs of pilgrims took a dip in the sacred pond in
northern cities of Kurukshetra, in the Ganga at Varansi,
Hooghly in eastern state Kolkata and Brahmaputra in
northeasten part Guwahati during the solar eclipse.
Scientists had chartered planes to carry out experiments
and film the eclipse from above the clouds. A few well-heeled
persons took to the skies in special flights to chase the
lunar shadow and view the eclipse.
The path of totality passed over Bhavnagar, Surat,
Ujjain, Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Jabalpur, Varanasi, Allahabad,
Gaya, Patna, Bhagalpur, Jalpaigudi, Guwahati, Dibrugarh and
Itanagar.
In the ancient city of Varansi, scientists from the
Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) could
observe the eclipse in totality.
"As the day started there was an apprehension that
eclipse may not be visible but as the sun rose the celestial
phenomena was quite clearly visible," R C Kapoor, a senior
official of the IIA said.
The solar eclipse was seen in totality for a duration
of three minutes and 10 seconds, Kapoor said.
Cloudy weather played a spoil sport in most parts of
Gujarat dampening the spirits of the people waiting to watch
the solar eclipse this morning.
In western city Surat, large number of people had
gathered at the airport to witness the solar eclipse.
The sun rose at 0605 IST and soon after sun light there
was complete darkness at 0621 IST when sun was completely
covered by the moon shadow.
Though the total solar eclipse was not visible due to
heavy clouds, the city was in complete darkness for about
three minutes of the total eclipse.
Eastern metropolis Kolkata witnessed 91 per cent of the
total solar eclipse despite cloudy skies.
The sun looked like a crescent as the moon's shadow
passed between the sun and the earth for a few minutes from
0620 IST.
Incessant rains proved to be a dampener with the people
unable to watch the total solar eclipse in Sikkim.
The next annular solar eclipse will occur on January 15,
2010, while next total solar eclipse will occur on July 11,
2010.
An average of 230 eclipses take place in a century and
the previous longest duration for a total solar eclipse was
registered in 1955, when it occurred for 7 minutes and 31
seconds, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics
(IIA), Professor Siraj Hasan said. PTI
dawn across large swathes of land along a narrow path
stretching from India's western state of Gujarat to
northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh as skywatchers
experienced the longest total solar eclipse of the century
this morning.
The dark shadow of the moon -- the conical shaped umbra
-- made its landfall in Gujarat at 0630 IST and raced across
the country within a span of a few minutes spreading darkness
in the path of totality.
At many places a thick cloud cover dampened the spirits
of skywatchers who had gathered to watch the celestial
spectacle.
With the sun blanked out for six minutes and 39 seconds,
this was the longest total solar eclipse to occur in the 21st
century, and will not be surpassed in duration until June 13,
2132.
In Taregna in eastern state of Bihar, touted as
the best place to watch the eclipse, thousands of
astro-enthusiasts were disappointed as clouds refused them a
glimpse of the completely eclipsed sun.
However, in Taregna, and most parts of northeast where,
clouds obscured the view of the sun, skywatchers were able to
experience the eclipse as daybreak turned to night for a few
minutes.
In Katni in central state of Madhya Pradesh, stargazers
enjoyed every moment of the celestial spectacle from atop the
Circuit House Hills for a full three minutes from 0622 IST
The group in Katni was awestruck as they saw the diamond
ring phenomenon for a few seconds just before the sun was
completely covered by the lunar shadow.
Some amateur astronomers were able to spot a few bright
stars which became visible in the momentary darkness as the
sun was completely covered giving them a magnificent view of
the Corona.
In national capital Delhi, clouds played hide-and-seek but
still astro-enthusiasts gathered at several places got a
glimpse of the sun. Eighty-three per cent of the sun dial was
obscured by the moon.The crescent sun smiled upon the capital
when the eclipse reached its maximum of 83 per cent at 0626
IST.
Lakhs of pilgrims took a dip in the sacred pond in
northern cities of Kurukshetra, in the Ganga at Varansi,
Hooghly in eastern state Kolkata and Brahmaputra in
northeasten part Guwahati during the solar eclipse.
Scientists had chartered planes to carry out experiments
and film the eclipse from above the clouds. A few well-heeled
persons took to the skies in special flights to chase the
lunar shadow and view the eclipse.
The path of totality passed over Bhavnagar, Surat,
Ujjain, Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Jabalpur, Varanasi, Allahabad,
Gaya, Patna, Bhagalpur, Jalpaigudi, Guwahati, Dibrugarh and
Itanagar.
In the ancient city of Varansi, scientists from the
Bangalore-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) could
observe the eclipse in totality.
"As the day started there was an apprehension that
eclipse may not be visible but as the sun rose the celestial
phenomena was quite clearly visible," R C Kapoor, a senior
official of the IIA said.
The solar eclipse was seen in totality for a duration
of three minutes and 10 seconds, Kapoor said.
Cloudy weather played a spoil sport in most parts of
Gujarat dampening the spirits of the people waiting to watch
the solar eclipse this morning.
In western city Surat, large number of people had
gathered at the airport to witness the solar eclipse.
The sun rose at 0605 IST and soon after sun light there
was complete darkness at 0621 IST when sun was completely
covered by the moon shadow.
Though the total solar eclipse was not visible due to
heavy clouds, the city was in complete darkness for about
three minutes of the total eclipse.
Eastern metropolis Kolkata witnessed 91 per cent of the
total solar eclipse despite cloudy skies.
The sun looked like a crescent as the moon's shadow
passed between the sun and the earth for a few minutes from
0620 IST.
Incessant rains proved to be a dampener with the people
unable to watch the total solar eclipse in Sikkim.
The next annular solar eclipse will occur on January 15,
2010, while next total solar eclipse will occur on July 11,
2010.
An average of 230 eclipses take place in a century and
the previous longest duration for a total solar eclipse was
registered in 1955, when it occurred for 7 minutes and 31
seconds, Director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics
(IIA), Professor Siraj Hasan said. PTI
