RARE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF THE YEAR
RARE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF THE YEAR
Nikunja BIhari Sahu
A rare celestial spectacle is
going to unfold with an annular solar eclipse looming large on June 21, 2020. The
annularity of the eclipse will be passing
over a narrow belt stretching from parts of African continent including Central
African Republic, Congo, and Ethiopia; south of Pakistan and northern India and
China. For India, it will be the second annular eclipse 6 months after the
December 26, 2019 eclipse. While the last annular eclipse of December 26, 2019
was visible over Southern India, the upcoming annular eclipse of June 21 will
be visible over Northern India. However,
like rest parts of the country eclipse in Odisha will be partial with nearly 65% obstruction of
the solar disc. All the three important
phases of the eclipse covering a total time span of 3 hours 32 minutes i.e. the
beginning part of the eclipse when the Moon just touches the Sun's edge, the maximum
part of the eclipse when the Moon is closest to the centre of the Sun and the
concluding part when the Moon leaves the Sun's edge should be visible from the
state provided good visibility conditions in the sky.
While
the observation of the last partial eclipse in Odisha in December, 2019 was marred
by cloudy sky, the weather this time also could not be predicted to be ideal for
uninterrupted observation of the skies due to the onset of monsoon clouds.
However, safe observation is at all necessary to view the eclipse. Looking directly at the Sun with naked eyes or through unprotected binoculars can cause eye damage and even can cause permanent blindness. Traditional method of viewing the Sun in Haldi water or with photographic films during the eclipse is highly unsafe and unscientific as it does not cut off all the harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiations from the Sun and, hence, should be avoided. Special filter glasses that cut off 99% of the Sun's visible rays and block all the harmful infra-red and ultra-violet radiations can allow us to view the phenomenon safely. However, the best way to view the Sun safely is to project its image on a screen with the help of a telescope or binocular and observing the progressive stages of the eclipse there itself.
Through the
ages, the sudden darkening or disappearance of the Sun has been seen as a sign
of displeasure of Gods or an omen of turbulent activities. In our Indian
mythology, two hungry demons named Rahu and Ketu are believed to be swallowing the
Sun during the eclipse. People used to observe penance and fasting during the
eclipse as it is believed that the food cooked during the eclipse turn toxic. Pregnant
women are advised to stay indoors in the belief of harmful impacts of the eclipsed
rays on the unborn baby. People are also advised not to embark on distant journeys
during the eclipse. Rituals of deities are generally altered in the temples due
to the eclipse. People used to take bath and offer puja in temples after the
eclipse.
Grand
celestial spectacles are not generally welcomed in our dogma dominated society.
What really disturbing is the unchanging mindset of the people even in the
light of the convincing scientific evidences put forward to explain these celestial
phenomena. It is quite ridiculous to shut oneself indoors when a spectacular
and a rare natural event is unfolding up in our backyard. We should not only
free ourselves from these bizarre beliefs, but also develop a sense of
curiosity and scientific mindset to unravel the mystery of nature.
Education Officer
Regional Science Centre
Bhopal
Phone : 8018708858
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