Taregna, July 22: Scientists, students and nature enthusiasts prepared Tuesday for the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, while millions planned to shutter themselves indoors, giving in to superstitious myths about the phenomenon.
The eclipse will first be sighted at dawn on Wednesday in Gulf of Khambhat, just north of the metropolis of Mumbai, before being seen in a broad swath moving north and east to Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China.
The eclipse — visible only in Asia — will reach its peak at about 6:20 a.m., and will last 6 minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point.
It is the longest such eclipse since July 11, 1991, when a total eclipse lasting 6 minutes, 53 seconds was visible from Hawaii to South America. There will not be a longer eclipse than Wednesday’s until 2132.
Wednesday’s eclipse will be seen for 3 minutes and 48 seconds in Taregna, where scientists say residents will have the clearest view.
Over the past week, this village has been swamped by researchers who will study scientific phenomena ranging from the behaviour of birds and other animals to atmospheric changes affected by the eclipse.
Hotels in Patna were fully booked while taxis raised their rates — sensing a brief opportunity in the sudden interest in the village.
Scientists set up telescopes and other equipment in Taregna a day in advance to make the most of the window of opportunity provided by the eclipse.
“We are hoping to make some valuable observations on the formation of asteroids around the sun,” Pankaj Bhama, a scientist with Science Popularization Association of Communicators and Educators, said on Tuesday.
A 10-member team of scientists from the premier Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore and the Indian Air Force will be flying and filming the eclipse as it becomes visible in different parts of the country, an air force press release said.
Thousands of people lined up outside a planetarium in Patna on Tuesday to buy solar viewing goggles.
In Punjab, authorities ordered schools to begin an hour late to prevent children from venturing out and gazing at the sun.
Others saw a business opportunity: one travel agency in India scheduled a charter flight to watch the eclipse by air, with seats facing the sun selling at a premium.
Additional police and paramilitary troops were posted around Patna and Taregna after Maoist rebels called for a strike on Wednesday to protest increases in the price of gas and other essentials.
“Adequate numbers of forces have been deployed at Taregna where top scientists and researchers are gathering to view the celestial wonder,” said R. Mallar Vizhi, a senior superintendent of police
–Agencies