Solar Eclipse
What exactly is a total Solar Eclipse
It’s when the new moon gets between Earth and Sun, and covers the solar disc completely. This can happen only during a new moon, when the sun and
moon are in conjunction as witnessed from earth. Minimum two and maximum five solar eclipses can occur in a year.
A total solar eclipse is easily the most spectacular celestial event you can view from Earth. The astrologers and astronomers believe the total solar eclipse to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and this one being the longest solar eclipse is definitely going to be a reason of curiosity. An eerie darkness descends during totality, birds fall silent and stars peer out in day time.
This one’s truly special. It’s the longest total eclipse this century and the longest seen in India since Aug 18, 1868. The next big total eclipse in the country takes place on Jun 3, 2114. Between then and now, there’s only 1 total eclipse, on March 20, 2034, and it would just be visible in J&K. The line of totality traverses a distance of over 3,000 km. So, more Indians will be in the path of totality than ever in history! With this triple eclipse, a series of seven triple eclipse is marked till 2028.
Solar Eclipse be viewed
The solar eclipse in Kanpur will be visible at 95.38 per cent. It will start at 5.32 am and last up to 7.26 am and is likely to peak at 6.26 am. The solar eclipse will commence even before sunrise and so the rising Sun itself will be eclipsed.
The partial eclipse will be visible from all over India. The Total Solar Eclipse is visible in Patna, Bhopal, Indore, Gaya, Varanasi, Bhavnagar, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Sibsagar, Surat, Ujjain and Vadodara. The time is early morning from 05:30 AM to 07:30 in most regions.
SUPERSTITIONS
There have been several popular superstitions attached with the eclipse and have been passed down the generations.
1. Pregnant women are not supposed to do any work with a needle, knife or scissors (basically any sharp object) because of the risk of physical mutations in their baby.
2. Pregnant women are advised not to go outside during the eclipse to avoid having a blind baby or one with a cleft lip.
3. It is also suggested that food cooked before the eclipse should be thrown out afterward as it becomes impure.
4. Another interesting story attached with the eclipse is that those who are holding a knife or axe or any other sharp instrument during the eclipse will cut themselves.
5. Eating is generally not allowed during an eclipse for the same reasons of impurity.
6. Sometimes, even bathing after a solar eclipse is recommended.
7. People should not venture out during the eclipse.
Hindu mythology
The Demons Rahu and Ketu, according to Hindu mythology caused the solar eclipse by eating away the Sun, but the mighty lord Sun was saved by Lord Vishnu and so every time an eclipse occurs, it is Rahu who eats the Sun.
Sky-gazers may just miss the fun as parts of state from where the total solar eclipse could be seen on July 22 are likely to have cloudy conditions.
It is a natural phenomenon. The only matter of concern is that this is the monsoon period and the visibility of the sun, low on the horizon, just after sunrise, when the eclipse takes place, is doubtful from almost all Indian locations.
Unfortunately, the weathermen of agronomy department of CSA have predicted rainfall in the next couple of days and so the overcast skies on Wednesday is likely. “Cloudy conditions would prevail during the next four or five days as pro-rainfall systems like low pressure area are present in the city,” pointed Dr Anirudh Dubey, weather scientist of CSA. “Besides local conditions like moisture and temperature would have an impact,” he added.
DOs and DONTs
1. Do not look at the Sun with naked eyes as during the transition period, it may burn the retina and one may lose eyesight.
2. Do not use ordinary dark glasses to see the Sun; UV glasses are appropriate to watch the eclipse, as they have the ability to reduce intensity.
3. The safest method is to project the Sun’s image on a wall with a pinhole camera and look at it.
Find or make a long box or tube.
Cut a hole in the centre of one end of the box.
Tape a piece of foil over the hole.
Poke a small hole in the foil with a pin.
Cut a viewing hole in the side of the box.
Put a piece of white paper inside the end of the box near the viewing portal.
Point the end of the box with the pinhole at the sun so that you see a round image on the paper at the other end. If you are having trouble pointing, look at the shadow of the box on the ground. The round spot of light you see on the paper is a pinhole image of the sun. Do not look through the pinhole at the sun! Look only at the image on the paper.
If you have some shady trees in your location, try looking at the images of the sun coming through the holes formed by the leaves. A piece of white posterboard is all you may need to have a great viewing session!
