Total solar eclipse: Nalanda,Shanghai on astronomers’ itinerary

Deeply interested in astronomy,Mule has lined up several experiments,which she plans to conduct a day prior to the eclipse — that will last three days. While there is another eclipse slated for January next year in India,it will be an ‘annular eclipse’,where the sun will look like a ring of fire. Mule is part of a group of around 60 amateur astronomers who are travelling from Pune to Nalanda to observe the total solar eclipse.

“Students from eighth standard to those pursuing their doctorate studies in various city institutions are joining us,” said Mayuresh Prabhune,co-coordinator of Khagol Vishwa that is organising this trip.

Representatives from city institutions like Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA),Indian Meteorological Society,Pune (IMSP) and the environment department of the University of Pune — are also heading to Nalanda,some in their individual capacities. Amateur organisations like ‘Aakash Mitra’ are sending around 15 ‘sky-lovers’ to Bihar; those who can afford it are going to China. Another group Jyotirvidya Prathistan,on the other hand,is organising two trips to Arunachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for the solar eclipse.

Meanwhile,the Patna planetarium,that has been fielding queries from several quarters,is expecting a huge crowd as they are getting many queries — even from abroad. “The eclipse is expected to last three minutes and ten seconds,which is rare and is of great interest to people. We are providing all help to people interested in conducting experiments,” said Dr Amitabh Ghosh,project director.

In fact,from June 27,the planetarium will be distributing ‘eclipse kits’,which will contain special spectacles that can be used to view the sun during the eclipse.

While the youngsters are headed to Nalanda,senior scientists from IUCAA,like Arvind Paranjape,is heading to Shanghai in China in his individual capacity. “The eclipse is supposed to last six minutes in China,” Paranjape said.

Before he catches a flight to Shanghai,Paranjape will be training amateurs at IUCCA to observe various phases of the solar eclipse in the coming weeks. “I have seen four solar eclipses; amateur astronomers should look out for the shadow bands,the baileys’ beads,the diamond ring,the flash spectrum and the corona,” he said. IUCAA is mobilising people through lectures,encouraging them to see the eclipse in Bihar in July.

However,there are concerns that the monsoon could turn out to be a killjoy. Prof Praveen Saptarishi,head of department for environment sciences,University of Pune,has seen three total solar eclipses — in 1979 at Hubli; in 1995 at Morena in Madhya Pradesh,but the last one in 1999 was a washout for him because of the rains. “We couldn’t clearly see the one in 1999 because of the cloud cover. I am hoping this one will be clearly visible.”

Saptarishi will be travelling with some of his students to Bihar or Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh. And on July 22,when the sky begins to darken around 6 am-6.30 am,many like Saptarishi will be praying for the clouds to keep away.