By IANS,
New Delhi : There was excitement in the air as a shaded sun peeped from an overcast sky at dawn Wednesday with tens of thousands of people across the country gathering at rooftops, planetariums and parks to watch the century’s longest total solar eclipse.
The eclipse started at sunrise in Surat in Gujarat at 5.28 a.m. when the moon started covering the sun and reached its peak at around 6.23 a.m. when the sun was completely obscured by the moon. The eclipse ended at 7.25 a.m.
The spectacle, marred by a cloud cover in many places, lasted six minutes and 44 seconds. The next time it will take place will be 123 years later in 2132.
The total solar eclipse was visible in some parts of the country like Surat in Gujarat, Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Patna and Taregna in Bihar, and Guwahati in Assam. The rest of the country experienced a partial eclipse.
However, at many places like Taregna and Surat people were disappointed as a thick layer of cloud hindered the clear view of the eclipse. Taregna was said to be one of the best places in India to watch the phenomenon.
The most beautiful part of the eclipse was when sun was completely covered by the moon and the corona became visible, forming a faint crown of pearly white light. Corona is the outer atmosphere of the sun, which is visible only during a total solar eclipse.
It was a breathtaking experience for a group of 50 people who chased the eclipse at 41,000 feet above the ground in a chartered flight over Gaya in Bihar.
In Delhi, around 3,000 people, including children, came to the Nehru Planetarium and National Science Centre to watch the eclipse. The planetarium had put out telescopes, solar filter screens and pin hole projections.
“It is completely fascinating and so beautiful to see. I thank god for I am lucky to watch it. The next total solar eclipse will take place only after 123 years,” said Nikhil Gupta, a Class 10 student of Springdales School.
There was serpentine queue at the Nehru Planetarium counter selling solar goggles.
“We did not expect such a huge turnout. We sold 4,700 solar goggles. It was a beautiful sight and nobody wanted miss it,” said M.K. Jain, an official at the planetarium.
Some students were carrying solar filters prepared especially by them to have a glimpse of the eclipse.
Shruti Dasgupta, a Class 9 student of Ahlcon Public School, said: “We were trained to make solar filters during a workshop and I have made the filters using an exposed filter film. I am excited for its the first and final time I am watching a total solar eclipse.”
Many foreign nationals were present at the planetarium with their sophisticated cameras and gadgets to watch the eclipse.
“I made up my plan to watch the eclipse Tuesday evening when I saw so much over TV channels. I got up at 4 a.m. and came all the way from Gurgaon to watch the eclipse. However, I was disappointed as clouds covered the sky but finally sun came out and it was amazing,” said Tine Rice, a British national.
“I am lucky then my other country men for I am in Delhi on a business trip and was able to watch the eclipse,” said an excited Mitt Ayrp, a German national.