Solar Eclipse
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Historical
Background : |
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history of total eclipse is very fascinating. The first solar
eclipse had been observed in the year of 2126 BC in China during the
reign of the Emperor Chund K'ang. The next eclipse was observed at
Ugarit in Syria in 1375 BC, as described in clay table found at
Ugarit (Syria). The first eclipse predictions were made by studying
the Saros cycle. The first known prediction was made by Thales of
Miletus, A Greek philosopher, who predicted the eclipse of 585 BC.
The eclipse is said to have put an end to a battle between the
forces of King Cyaxares of the Medas and King Alyattes of the
Lydians. The warriors were so alarmed that they gave up the fight
and concluded a hasty peace accord. |
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Louis, the emperor of
Bavaria, died of fright due to an eclipse in 840. His sons then
fought ruinously over succession Jules Janssen an astronomer escaped
from Paris, in a balloon on 22nd. December 1870. Paris was besieged
by German forces at war with the French. He reached Oran safely, but
clouds prevented him from observing the eclipse. |
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The observation of the corona has
an interesting history it is first mentioned in vague terms by
Plutarch (46 to 120 AD) in his book 'On the face in the Orb of the
Moon as a splendour around the eclipsed sun. It was surely recorded
at the time of the eclipse on Corfu on 22nd December 96. Clavious,
the astronomer, saw the corona on 9th April 1567, but considered it
to be the uncovered edge of the Sun Kepler showed that it could not
be so and attributed it to the Lunar atmosphere. Lter, after the
eclipse of 16th June 1806, the astronomer Don Jose Joaquin be Ferrer
showed that if the corona were due to the lunar atmosphere, it would
have to be 50 times larger that that of the earth which would be
ridiculous. Only after the careful study of the eclipses in 1842 and
1851, the corona and the prominences were unambiguously shown to
belong to the sun, rather than the moon. Finally, Eddington and
Dyson, observing from Sobral in Brazil and Principe in West Africa
were able to photograph the total solar eclipse on 29th May 1999.
They observed that the light of a star in the vicinity of the sun
was deflected by 1/2000 of a degree or around 2 seconds of arc. This
was the triumph of the General Theory of Relativity. does extenze pills work |
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Eclipse of the
Millenium: A Bird Eye view: |
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The total solar
eclipse is one of the Nature's most beautiful spectacles, leaving a
lasting impact on the minds of those who are fortunate enough to
witness it. This is such a unique phenomenon that people have
travelled long distances to see it. It is hard to erse from the mind
what one sees during such an event. |
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Solar eclipse occur
when the Moon. comes between the Earth and Sun. It can be partial,
annular and total depends upon the movement of the moon. Minimum two
solar eclipse occur in a calendar year. There are about 238 solar
eclipse in the span on 100 years of which are 28% total eclipse is
seen only once in 360 years from a specific place on aunties beads . There are not many names among the slot machine cheats you have to remember and honor. the earth. The
maximum width of the totality belt of solar eclipse can be 262 km
and maximum possible duration of totality is 450 seconds.
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At the time of
Total Solar Eclipse we can see soon after, the little bright specks
remain where depressions in the contact points, shadow bands,
Bailey's beads, Diamond ring, prominencers, corona, stars and
planets. During the totality when the moon cover the completely some
of the sunlight shining through the valleys, of the moon small
points of lights along the advancing rim of the moon, these are
called Bailey's Beads. These beads were first observed by Bialy in
1715 Francis Scientist Baily observed its during the annular
eclipses on 15th May 1836. It occur for a second and a last rays of
sun are still coming from the deepest valley of the moon. The solar
corona is already shining from the eastern limb of the sun. It looks
like a heavenly ring with a sparking diamond set in it. This is
called the diamond ring phenomenon. At even this ring goes away a
bright red are flashes before our eyes, this happened and from the
chromasphere, which is the thin atmosphere just, above the
photosphere of the sun. At that time we can see the dark disk of the
moon coronated by the outermost atmosphere of the sun this is called
the corona. A beautiful structure of fine filaments, loops and disk
that is in the middle of corona. It shows vivid lues of bluish
colour. At this moment we can see close to the silhonetted moon and
certain bright red flares which is called the prominences.
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Superstitions Myths about Solar
Eclipse: |
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In Indian Mythology, Solar or Lunar
Eclipse are totally related to superstitions & myths. At the time of
solar eclipse, Rahu and Ketu have eaten Sun, because they believe
the sun is God.
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The Munda tribes
from Bihar and the Bastar region of Madhya Pradesh have fantastic
stories about the eclipses. They believe that the sun and the moon
take a loan from a demon called "Dhanko". When the Sun or the Moon
fail to repay the loan during the stipulated period, "Dhanko"
impressions them and so they suddenly disappear from the sky. The
repayment period is according to the lunar month, so the
imprisonment is also linked to the lunar cycle. To help the Sun and
the Moon to repay their debts to "Dhanko", the Mundas bring their
utensils, rice grains and their weapons out in their utensils, rice
grains and their weapons out in their courtyards as offerings. As
always 'Dhanko' accepts the offering and soon the Sun or the Moon is
set free.
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The Munda tribes
from Bihar and the Bastar region of Madhya Pradesh have fantastic
stories about the eclipses. They believe that the sun and the moon
take a loan from a demon called "Dhanko". When the Sun or the Moon
fail to repay the loan during the stipulated period, "Dhanko"
impressions them and so they suddenly disappear from the sky. The
repayment period is according to the lunar month, so the
imprisonment is also linked to the lunar cycle. To help the Sun and
the Moon to repay their debts to "Dhanko", the Mundas bring their
utensils, rice grains and their weapons out in their utensils, rice
grains and their weapons out in their courtyards as offerings. As
always 'Dhanko' accepts the offering and soon the Sun or the Moon is
set free.
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During the third
century AD, the Siddhantic era of astronomical studies flourished.
It was then that Rahu and Ketu were defined as imaginary points of
intersection of the orbits of the Sun and the Moon. From the writing
of Aryabhata- I in 499 AD has cleared about the scientific causes of
the eclipses. Finally, Eddington and Dyson, observing from Sobral in
Brazil and Principe in West Africa were able to photograph the total
solar eclipse on 29th May 1919. They observed that the light of a
star in the vicinit of the sun was deflected by 1/2000 of a degree
or around 2 seconds of arc. This was the triumph of the General
Theory of Relativity.
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A Total Solar eclipse was first
telecast by the BBC on 15th February 1961 and was transmitted from
T.V. station in France, Italy and Yugoslavia.
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The Last total Solar Eclipse of the
millennium:
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On 11th August
1999, it was the rare opportunity to witness the total solar
eclipse, which was visible in a narrow belf passing through Gujrat,
Maharastra and touching southern parts of Madhya Pradesh (Jagdalpur
and Burhanpur), Andhra Pradesh & Orissa. In other parts of the
country eclipse was partial. The council has formulated a state wide
campaign for spreading awareness about the TSE-99. The main
objective of the eclipse to educated the people about safe viewing
of the eclipse, also eradication of myths and superstitions
regarding eclipse among the general public and to popularise
astronomy through watching TES with a programme in Madhya Pradesh
The National Council of Science & Technology Communication, New
Delhi had sponsored this activity. And provide literature and solar
kits for watching of TSE. The Council has organised training
programmes for resource persons at Bhopal and Raipur, state level
essay competition and total solar eclipse observation camp at
Jagdalpur on 11th August 1999 to popularise Astronomy in Madhya
Pradesh.
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