Over 2000 people swarm Nehru Planetarium for unique solar eclipse
By chennaivision at 22 July, 2009, 11:57 am
New Delhi, More than 2000 people of all age groups gathered at the Nehru Planetarium here early this morning to witness the much awaited celestial event of the century, the longest total solar eclipse.
People started reaching Nehru Planetarium in large numbers at 0500 hrs where complete arrangements had been made for the public to admire the largest and unique solar eclipse whose totality belt passed through India.
We had set up two telescopes from which pictures were projected on screen for a larger audience. We had also put up two big solar filters and a binocular box. Telescopes were not used for direct viewing keeping in mind the large audience that was here to view this unique event, Asst Administrative Officer of Nehru Planetarium M K Jain told UNI.
The planetarium received a whopping 5000 calls yesterday, besides those received in the past ten days, from enthusiasts seeking information about the grand celestial event and the various dos and donts. Solar goggles were also being distributed at the Centre.
Arrangemets were also made to project images of solar eclipse at other locations across India where the solar eclipse was near total and total in case a cloudy sky in Delhi played a spoilsport or if it would have rained here.
However, these arrangements were not used because the eclipse here at Delhi could also be viewed despite there being clouds which had dispersed by 0550 hrs and were not constantly enveloping the city, Mr Jain said.
People, both kids and adults who thronged the planetarium today appeared aware as they did not need much explanation and it was nice to see that in most cases it was the kids who had convinced their parents to come along and understand the universe, he said and added that it was heartening to see that scientific temper is building in the generation.
The Nehru planetarium had also arranged preparatory workshops for total solar eclipse in collaboration with Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) and Amateur Astronomers Association, Delhi for schools.
The path of eclipse began in India and crossed through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China.
The Indian cities through which the shadow of total eclipse passed are Surat, Ujjain, Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Jabalpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gaya, Patna, Bhagalpur, New Jalpaigudi, Guwahati and Dibrugarh.
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