Page 10 - Dream June 2020

ANNULAR S LAR ECLIPSE COVER STORY
In one calendar year, there can be at least two and at most five solar eclipses; however, the total number of solar and lunar eclipses cannot exceed seven. A solar eclipse occurs on a new moon while a lunar eclipse occurs only on a full moon. But we do not observe eclipses on every new moon or full moon. This is because the orbit of the Moon is inclined at 5˚ to the ecliptic.
India from west Rajasthan, the first town to see it is Gharsana. As per Indian standard time, the first contact will start at 10 hours 12 minutes and 26 seconds. The annularity will start at 11 hours 50 minutes and 08 seconds and will end at 11 hours 50 minutes and 32 second, thus making it only 24 seconds of annularity at Gharsana. The fourth and the last contact will be at 13 hours 36 minutes and 56 seconds. The annularity will pass through Anupgarh, Sri Vijaynagar, Suratgarh of Rajasthan and will enter Haryana from Ellenabad and then progress to Sirsa,
Ratia (Fathehabad), Jakhal, Pehowa, Kurukshetra, Ladwa, Yamunanagar to Jagadari and touch upon Behat district of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Behat is the only major town from UP where the annularity will be visible. From UP, annularity enters Uttarakhand and passes via Dehradun, Chamba, Tehri, Agastmuni, Chamoli Gopeshwar, Pipalkoti, Tapowan and finally the annularity will leave India from Joshimath. At Joshimath, eclipse will start at 10 hours 27 minutes and 43 seconds with first contact and annularity will start 12 hours 09 minutes and 40 seconds and will end at 12 hours 10 minutes and 04 second giving rise to only 24 seconds of annularity at Joshimath. The fourth and the last contact will be at 13 hours 54 minutes and 27 seconds.
Dr Arvind C. Ranade is Scientist 'F' in Vigyan Prasar. Email: rac@vigyanprasar.gov.in
10 dream2047/june2020