All eyes on century8217;s last eclipse

AHMEDABAD, Aug 2: The Physical Research Laboratory scientists are gearing up to study the corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun, during...

AHMEDABAD, Aug 2: The Physical Research Laboratory scientists are gearing up to study the corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun, during the millennium8217;s last solar eclipse, which is to take place on August 11 and will be best visible from Gujarat.

The event will start with a partial solar eclipse which will begin at 4.54 pm and will turn into the total solar eclipse at 5.59 pm. The duration of the total eclipse, called totality in scientific parlance, will be about one minute.

quot;Although the solar eclipse belt in India includes Maharashtra, Gujarat, Visakhapatnam and the Bay of Bengal, totality is expected to be best visible from Kutch, Bhuj, Dhrangadra, Malia, Bhachau, Petlad, Lakhpat and Baroda areas of Gujarat because of superior sky condition,quot; sources in the PRL said.

Sources said that it would be very difficult for the PRL scientists to undertake the study of the corona if the sky conditions in Gujarat took a turn for the worse. quot;We are hoping for a clear sky over which we have no control,quot; a PRL scientist said.

Sources said the scientists, most probably, would be conducting their research activity from Kutch.

Associate professors in the Astronomy and Astrophysics division of the PRL Dr T Chandrashekhar and Dr N M Ashok, along with their team of three assistants, will undertake the study of corona.

Despite unpredictable weather conditions PRL officials are taking no chances as far as the study of corona is concerned. quot;We have already sent a team of three scientists from Udaipur Solar Eclipse Observatory of PRL to Iran which is the best place to study the solar eclipse because of good weather conditions there,quot; a senior scientist said.

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The reason why the PRL is so cautious is that the complete eclipse which occurs after a gap of eleven years provides the only opportunity to study the mysterious phenomenon called corona. quot;Corona is a high temperature region where temperature is a few million degrees. The visible surface of the sun has a temperature of about 6,000 degrees,quot; a scientist said.

According to him, how corona is heated to such high degree is still a puzzle despite several studies on the matter in the last 50 years. quot;All our efforts are aimed at understanding the temperature structures of corona and on what makes it so hot,quot; he said. The scientist added, quot;If we are able to unravel this mystery, we will be able to understand the corona of other stars.quot;

PRL sources said the study of corona would be undertaken using a spectrometer attached to Charged Coupled Device Camera.

Experts warn that watching partial eclipse with naked eye can cause blindness. It should be watched using filters or welder8217;s glasses. Total solar eclipse can be watched with naked eyes because corona is only as bright as the full moon.