22 July :Thousands of skywatchers burst into an applause as darkness descended soon after sunrise as the moon came in between the earth and the sun during the total solar eclipse on Wednesday morning.
Excited scientists and researchers including from abroad were all geared up to conduct experiments in several institutions when the solar eclipse raced across the country.
The celestial spectacle, due to its trajectory over China and India, ended up being the most watched eclipse in history and was of three to six-minute durations in the cities where the shadow of the eclipse passed.
The eclipse was first seen in Surat at sunrise in South Gujarat.
Astronomers and lay persons who had gathered in Dibrugarh in Assam witnessed the total eclipse between 6:31 a.m. and 6:34 a.m.
However, their counterparts in Taregna in Bihar, touted as the best location to watch the longest eclipse in a century were not so fortunate as clouds played spoilsport blanking out the early morning sun.
The Indian cities through which the shadow of total eclipse passed are Surat, Ujjain, Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Jabalpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gaya, Patna, Bhagalpur, New Jalpaigudi, Guwahati and Dibrugarh.
Millions of devotees thronged to Kurukshetra, Varanasi and Allahabad for holly dip.
The celestial spectacle began at 5:45 a.m. and most parts of the country woke up to see an eclipsed sun as the moon passed between the earth and the sun. It ended at 7.24 a.m.
In Delhi, clouds played hide-and-seek but still astro-enthusiasts gathered at several places got a glimpse of the sun. Eighty-three percent of the sun dial was obscured by the moon.
The crescent sun smiled upon the capital when the eclipse reached its maximum of 83 percent at 6:26 a.m.
Several skywatchers watched the celestial spectacle from Nehru Planetarium where special arrangements were made.
Projectors, telescopes and special solar view goggles were made available to the people who gathered to have a glimpse of the cosmic event.
The last partial solar eclipse occurred on 26th January 2009.
Many people who had gathered at the planetarium were brimming with excitement as they watched the celestial show.
Teenager Sachi, who came to the planetarium to watch the event, said “It is the first time I am seeing such an event”.
what is Taregna?
Taregana (or Taregna literally means song of the stars)
35 km off Patna, the capital city of Bihar in India, has overnight turned into a much sought after tourist destination thanks to the total solar eclipse on22 July 2009.
The phenomenon will be best glimpsed from the humble environs of Taregna, which according to NASA is the best place to view the Total Solar Eclipse.
Taregana’s association with astronomy is perhaps as old as astronomy itself. Taregana is one of the two places used by Indian astronomer-mathematician Aryabhata (sometimes spelt as Aryabhatta) for his celestial studies.
It is believed he was the first to state that the earth revolves around the sun after a long research in his observatory tower at Taregnadih, the mound near Taregna.
According to the NASA forecast based on satellite imagery, ‘the sky over the region (Taregna) is likely to be less cloudy than at other places in the 250 km wide path of the total solar eclipse. So it may offer one of the best views of the celestial phenomenon’.
The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has set up a special counter at Taregna to provide all possible facilities to the visitors. All the concerned Government departments have been assigned tasks of setting up temporary public toilets, repairing the road, providing round-the-clock power supply as well as bringing out a pamphlet on the village.
It will be a memorable day for residents of Taregna because many scientists, researchers, observers, journalists from the world over and even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are expected to arrive here to watch the total solar eclipse. The mood is quite upbeat and festive in this Bihar village.
Most school students of the village have been taught about the importance of Taregna in view of the total solar eclipse and its historical connection with astronomy.
There was a total solar eclipse of 4 minute duration, visible from the Mediterranean seaside town Side in Turkey and some other Middle Eastern countries during March, 29 2006.
The 22 July 2009 solar eclipse will be the longest solar eclipse of this century with the maximum phase lasting for 6 minutes 39 seconds. The next total solar eclipse that can be viewed from many parts of India will occur only on June 3, 2114, according to astronomers.
The longest total solar eclipse in this century on Wednesday, as swaths of India and China are plunged into darkness, will be viewed by millions of people in Asia.
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