ECLIPSE AND THE EUPHORIA

         

 

       The partial solar eclipse on 25th October, 2022 following Diwali has aroused much curiosity in the minds of the people worldwide considering the fact that eclipses are generally the  rarest spectacles of nature and the next solar eclipse that would be visible to India is on 2nd August, 2027, almost five years later. The solar eclipses, in particular, are rarest occasions because they occur over a very narrow belt over the Earth which sometimes fall in the inaccessible places like   the seas or mountains making their visibility to a populated region of the world very remote. 

       This is the second partial solar eclipse of the year after the eclipse of June 30 and should be visible from Europe, western Asia and northeast Africa and  from near sunrise time  in Iceland to near sunset time in western India.  The eclipse was important because of its visibility to India over a limited belt although for a brief period mostly seen during the sunset. The eclipse should also be visible to Odisha to a very brief period mostly during the sunset.  Among the spectacular solar eclipses seen to Odisha in near past was a Total eclipse on February 16, 1980 and a Partial Eclipse of October 24, 1995. No Annular eclipse has been seen so far in Odisha in near past. However the last two partial eclipses on December 26, 2019 and June 21, 2020  were not visible to Odisha owing to poor visibility conditions of the sky.

 

        A solar eclipse usually occurs on a New Moon day when the Moon lies between the Sun and the Earth in a straight line blocking the Sun's rays  to cast   a shadow on the Earth. While during a Total Solar Eclipse, the Sun completely vanishes from the sky causing a temporary nightfall, a Partial eclipse, on the other hand, is marked by an incomplete obstruction of the solar disc by the Moon resulting in the diminishing daylight and fall of ambient temperature. However, in an annular solar eclipse, the Moon only obstructs the central part of the Sun leaving its fiery outer edge exposed resembling a ring of fire hanging in the sky.

             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, welder's glass 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 celestial event 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 from the sky   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 rare natural event is unfolding up over our backyard. We should not only free ourselves from these bizarre beliefs but also develop a sense of curiosity and a scientific mindset to unravel the mystery of nature.

                                                                      Nikunja BIhari Sahu

                                                                         Education Officer

                                                                   Regional Science Centre

                                                                              Bhopal

                                                                     Phone : 8018708858

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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