Rare Celestial Sight for Sky Watchers in city

A rare opportunity is coming up for sky-watchers on January 15, when they will witness the longest annular eclipse of the sun.

A rare opportunity is coming up for sky-watchers on January 15, when they will witness the longest annular eclipse of the sun. The annular eclipse is happening on January 15 from 11.17 am to 3.07 pm. This will be partial and will be visible from Pune and the main belt is along the Kanyakumari u2014Rameshwaram belt.

Astro-enthusiasts in the city are all agog with excitement and plans have been made to watch this rare phenomenon.

Amit Purandare,
co-ordinator of Astro Club, said, "We are making arrangements to leave for Kanyakumari on Jan 13. This is the spot where the eclipse will have its best visual impact."

Sarang Oak, the head of this group explained, "This annular eclipse is a rare one, as it happens only once in a lifetime. The next annular eclipse will be visible 120 years later."

Another astro group in the city, Jyotirvidya Parisanstha, will catch the eclipse in the city.

Deepak Joshi, secretary, Jyotirvidya Parisanstha, said, "We are putting up telescopes in the playing ground outside Shaniwarwadau00a0 and we will be projecting the images on the wall, so that the people can witness the eclipse. We will track the movement of the sun throughout that period."

He pointed out, "At the time of the eclipse, there is the sun spot activity, meaning some parts of the sun become hotter and turn darker. Such spots are there on the solar disc and we can observe those sun spots.

But there is no superstition or myth behind these eclipses."

He also cautioned that, "We should not look at it with the naked eye but with special goggles."

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