Good morning friends. Yesterday was the second day of Kite Festival Celebration. Everybody was busy flying their kite. Some are busy watching the solar eclipse.
On a bright Friday afternoon, all eyes at Gujarat Science City were trained heavenwards. A huge crowd had gathered there to enjoy the first annular solar eclipse of the year and also the longest in the millennium.
Kids, amateurs, scientists, eclipse chasers and solar enthusiasts wearing special protection glasses patiently watched the majestic natural phenomena unfold – as the sun slowly got eclipsed by moon.
Former Scientist, PRL, JN Desai said, “A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between earth and the sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring earth’s view of the sun.”
“An annul solar eclipse happens when moon’s apparent diameter becomes smaller than the sun, resulting in the latter look like a ring,” Desai added.
The eclipse started at around 11 am and continued till 3 pm. An annual eclipse appears as a partial eclipse over a region speed over thousands of miles.
Gurvinder Sheth had visited the Science City along with her two young children who had made a small project on the solar eclipse. Sheth said, “Hands-on experience helps children learn much better. They came up with this project to make the experience more interactive.”
More than 1,500 visitors were at the Science City to watch the solar eclipse. Principal secretary, department of science & technology, Ravi Saxena, who was among those present on the occasion, said, “Science City is organizing a lot of activities to create and promote scientific awareness.
The event was a great success with the enthusiasts today and they thronged to see the eclipse defying the superstitions related to the event.”