Celestial spectacle eclipses all

MUMBAI, JULY 30: It is an event that is quite literally on a celestial scale. On August 11, the last total solar eclipse of the millenniu...

MUMBAI, JULY 30: It is an event that is quite literally on a celestial scale. On August 11, the last total solar eclipse of the millennium will play itself out in the great big canopy. But Mumbaikars hoping to catch a glimpse of the event can keep their fingers crossed 8212; if it rains, the eclipse will be a total washout.

While Mumbai will witness a partial eclipse on the evening of August 11, astronomers are praying that the clouds will remain at bay. 8220;It is in the evening, when clouds gather around the horizon,8221; says J J Rawal, director, Nehru Planetarium.

But if the weather isn8217;t gloomy, the city will get to see 93 per cent of the two-hour eclipse, which will start at around 5 pm. It will peak at around 6 pm. The planet Venus will also be visible during the eclipse.

Since this is the last eclipse of the century 8212; the next total solar eclipse will be in July 22, 2009 8212; astronomy buffs are making sure they witness it in full. The eclipse will be best visible at Halwad in Saurashtra. The totaleclipse will also be seen at Baroda, Bhuj and Surendranagar in Gujarat. In Maharashtra, the total eclipse can be watched at Jalgaon and Bhusawal in Jalgaon district.

Several astronomers8217; associations have organised trips and camps to feast their eyes on the phenomenon. The New Delhi-based Confederation of Indian Amateur Astronomers CIAA has organised a camp near Bhuj, Kutch. A team from the Nehru Planeterium in Mumbai, along with six post-graduate students from the University of Mumbai8217;s Physics Department, will undertake research in Saurashtra and Bhuj, among other places, Rawal says.

But there8217;s good news for Mumbaikars too. The Nehru Planeterium will post guides near Vallabhbhai Stadium near Haji Ali to guide sky-watchers. 8220;From the planeterium, one won8217;t be able to see the eclipse. But from the stadium, the sun will be right across the ocean,8221; Rawal says. The planeterium also plans to use a telescope to project a reflection of the eclipse on a screen at the stadium.

Several groups are alsooffering solar spectacles for the grant event. As a Comet Media Foundation spokesperson says: 8220;We are doing everything to make people watch the eclipse.8221; The foundation is distributing filters made by a women8217;s organisation, Navnirmiti. 8220;We are also trying to organise lectures/demonstrations in schools and colleges about the eclipse,8221; she adds.

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Milind Kale, vice-president of Khagol Mandal, an amateur astronomers8217; group, is organising exhibitions and slide shows. Currently, an exhibition is on at Tilaknagar Vidyamandir, Dombivli E, while a slide show has been organised at Bal Bhavan Mandir, Dadar. Kale8217;s group will also go to Bhuj on a study tour.

While there are several superstitions surrounding the eclipse 8212; the last total solar eclipse was on October 24, 1995 8212; things have changed since, feels D K Soman, Thane Amateur Astronomers group member. 8220;Last time, there was a live TV telecast. In fact, several city residents travelled to North India to witness the eclipse8230; railway tickets were allsold out,8221; he says. For the last eclipse, Nehru Planeterium sold out 5,000 solar spectacles 8212; which itself proves that people are no longer afraid of watching an eclipse. Earlier, people would not even venture outdoors during an eclipse for the fear that the eclipse may be ominous.

The rush is expected to be the same this year too, considering it is the last total solar eclipse in the millenium. But for a total solar eclipse, the city has a long wait ahead 8212; it will be another 200-300 years, with the last one having been in the nineteenth century.

For details, Nehru Planetarium can be contacted on 4920510. Those interested in attending the CIAA camp can contact Mukesh Pathak in Baroda on 0265-775463 or Narendra Gor at Bhuj on 02832-21310. A Rs 350 fee will be charged. Anil Palawe of the Thane Amateur Astronomers can be contacted on 5426666/Comet Media Foundation on 3869052 and Nav Nirmiti on 5690145.