GANGTOKIANS CAN VIEW SOLAR ECLIPSE FROM 5.32 AM ON 22.JULY 2009
GANGTOK
22 JUNE 2009
After 221 years, people of Sikkim & NORTH BENGAL will get to see a total solar eclipse exactly a month from today. They will have to wait for a similar chance for another 114 years.
“It will be a rare occasion for residents living in this part of the country to witness all the phases of the eclipse — right from partial phase to the diamond ring, corona and back to the partial phase. The entire process will continue for more than two hours,” said Debasis Sarkar, the secretary of the Sky Watchers’ Association of North Bengal, here today.
“North Bengal had last witnessed such a total eclipse on June 4, 1788 and will again get the chance on May 14, 2124. It is an exceptional opportunity to see this astronomical phenomenon, visible on the eastern hemisphere of the Earth this time. If we consider Hashmi Chowk as the central point of Siliguri, the eclipse can be seen there from 5.30am.”
According to Sarkar, the moon’s shadow that will form the eclipse will begin from the Gulf of Khambhat. It will reach Surat and criss-cross central India, covering Indore, Varanasi, Bhopal and Patna, before reaching SIKKIM & north Bengal.
Malda and Balurghat in north Bengal will also miss the totality. “We, however, have the risk of an overcast sky in Siliguri and Sikkim which can ruin the viewing,” a member said
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