Mangalore: World to Witness Partial Solar Eclipse on Aug 1

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 1: The state will be witnessing partial solar eclipse between 4.42 pm and 6.07 pm on Friday August 1. As the moon blocks rays of the sun falling on the earth by obscuring the sun, the eclipse can be experienced across the country. However, total solar eclipse will occur only at Mongolia, Canada, Green Land, China, Central Russia and Artic regions. The eclipse view will be more pronounced for the people residing in the north east India, The eclipse will be at its maximum during the final stages of its duration but people of Nagaland and Miozoram will miss out the eclipse as the eclipse comes to a close after sunset there, said Ratnasri, director of Nehru Planetarium. The eclipse will be visible at its maximum level at Sib Sagar in Assam.

The eclipse will begin in New Delhi at 4.03 pm, ending at 5.56 pm. It will be at its peak at 5.02 pm. Citizens of Mumbai will be able to witness this phenomenon between 4.27 and 6.03 pm, while its duration in Chennai will be between 4.40 pm and 6.07 pm. The meteorological department expects the sky to be clear during the evening. The visible part of eclipse in south India will be 20-40% while various parts of north India can view 40-70% eclipse.

The experts have reiterated that it will be dangerous to view this rare happening with naked eyes. Various media have come out with precautions to be taken for viewing the eclipse like use of pinhole cameras, watching the images as a reflection water etc., Bangaloreans can view the eclipse from Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium if the sky is clear. Interested persons can also view the eclipse on the NASA site at www.nasa.gov. The next partial solar eclipse will occur on January 26, 2009, which will be visible only in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

The Indian astrologers have prohibited consumption of food for a period of four Yaamas of three hour duration each, earlier to the beginning of the eclipse. The ancient works prescribe that there should not be any food left in the stomach during the eclipse period. They also say that eclipse can be viewed only as a reflection in water mixed with cow dung. Now-a-days, glasses for viewing such phenomenon have been developed. In the past, eclipse was seen on the screens, oil or water, say noted experts.

This eclipse is said to be auspicious for people with zodiac signs Vrushabha, Kanya, Tula and Kumbha. People with Mithuna, Vrushika, Makara and Meena birth signs will have medium result while the eclipse will be ominous for those born in Mesha, Karkataka, Simha and Dhanu zodiac signs, says the work, 'Nirnaya Sindhu'.

Likewise, the eclipse is said to adversely affect people born in Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Makha, Anuradha, Jyeshta, Uttarabhadra and Revati star signs, with Pushya and Ashlesha signs being the worst affected. The Shastras prescribe conducting of Grahana Shanti, offering of gingely oil to Lord Shiva temples etc., for blunting these ill affects. The eclipse will not bring any fatalities but moving out during the eclipse period is banned. The astrologers say, that ill affects basically mean adverse health affects.

For Udupi citizens, Poornaprajna College has provided the facility of viewing the eclipse through pinhole camera on a screen located on the terrace of its MBA building from 4.45 pm to 6.00 pm.