02 July,2009 04:15 PM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Around 70 Amateur astronomers from Pune are making a beeline for Jiaxing coast in China to witness historic total solar eclipse on July 22
Pune may not be among the Indian cities that will witness the total solar eclipse on July 22, but that has not deterred the city's eager amateur astronomers. At least 70 Puneites have finalised plans to witness the historic event in China where the total solar eclipse will be seen for six long minutes.
The longest the eclipse will last in India is four minutes, and that if you see it from Nalanda and Patna in Bihar.
According to Dr Prakash Tupe, a noted amateur astronomer, there is a possibility that monsoon clouds will obscure the eclipse in India. This won't be a problem in China. Agreed Anil Damle, director, Damle Safari who is organising a tour to Shanghai for the eclipse. "The solar eclipse in China will be clearly visible because the skies there won't be cloudy as they will beu00a0 in India," he said
Big plans
Forty Puneites have signed up for Damle's tour. Said Damle, "We will watch the eclipse at the coast of Jiaxing near Shanghai. Dr Nilima Thatte will make a telescopic video recording of the celestial occurence. We have also arranged for astrophysics expert Harshad Abhyankar to analyse the findings." Zelam Chaubal, director, Kesri Tours said that so far, 30 people have signed up for the trip, including owner Kesari Patil. "We are also carrying special goggles to watch the celestial drama," she said.
Arvind Paranjpe, officer for public outreach programme at Pune University's Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, who is also make the trip said, "I am carrying my four inch mirror telescope with me. I will also be recording the eclipse on my laptop with my video and still cameras."
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