Solar eclipse: silver lining in cloudy skies

“Along with Dr Hari Om Vats from the Physical Research Laboratory,our amateur astronomers from the city will measure the shadow of the sun on the cloud cover that will appear like a large circular dark patch on a white sheet. The velocity of the shadow will in turn indicate the precise timing in which various stages of solar eclipse occur,even if we miss the spectacle in the clear sky,” said Chief Education Officer for GNCS,Mukesh Pathak.

He added that even the shadow of the sun will create contrasts,which is very rare. On the other hand,if the cloud cover continues,the shadow band experiment will not be possible. “However,our other experiments on animal and plant behaviour,soil temperatures,and climatic differences will continue in four different locations.”

Meanwhile,the Sardar Vallabhbhai Planetarium,in association with Urmi School,will put up live videos from the Internet telecasting the eclipse from space.

“Even if the cloud cover is there,we will continue to show the eclipse on the giant screens that will telecast the images from space. Our experiments will continue especially on animal and bird behaviour. We will study touch-me-not and sunflower for that purpose,” added D D Purohit,cosmologist from the planetarium.

Wednesday’s solar eclipse is the longest in 21st century. It will continue for six mins and 38 seconds,while in Vadodara it will last for 1 min 20 seconds. The eclipse will start at 6:23 am on Wednesday.