Solar Eclipse: A complete guide

Longest total eclipse of the century: On July 22, 2009, a total eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth which includes most of eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The total solar eclipse will be the longest eclipse of the 21st Century being 6 minutes 39 seconds at the point of maximum eclipse. (AP)

What is a total eclipse: A total eclipse occurs when the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon. The intensely bright disk of the Sun is replaced by the dark silhouette of the Moon and the much fainter corona is visible. During any one eclipse, totality is visible only from at most a narrow track on the surface of the Earth. (Reuters)

How does Total eclipse occur: Earth in its eccentric orbit, the eclipse is total. The Moon covers the whole of the solar disc. It becomes pretty dark, even if it happens in the middle of the day. This is a most impressive sight and has fascinated humans for a long time. Eclipses are total only in a few minutes and only in small bands over the Earth. (Reuters)

Path of the eclipse: The total solar eclipse will be visible in India, some of the Japanese islands, China and Pacific Ocean. The eclipse begins with the sunrise in the western part of India, travels to eastern part of India, crosses to Mynamar (Burma), small islands of Japan and China. In India Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Varanasi and Patna are some of the cities lie close to the central part of the totality. 

Do's & don'ts during the eclipse: No one should view the eclipse with the naked eye. This is because the reduced lighting in the sky caused due to the eclipse, causes the pupils to dilate. This can cause permanent eye damage, and even blindness. If you want your child to get a safe view of the eclipse, you could get him eclipse glasses. (Reuters)

Pregnant Women should not go outdoors during an eclipse: A very prominent myth states that a pregnant woman should not view the eclipse, nor should she step out in the sun during an eclipse. As a result, thousands of pregnant women in India have been warned to stay home during the eclipse. 

Not safe to watch with naked eye: Partial eclipses, annular eclipses and the partial phases of total eclipses are never safe to watch without taking special precautions. It is intensely bright and cannot be viewed safely without eye protection. (AFP/Sam Panthaky)

Special 'eclipse flight': To give eclipse enthusiasts a chance to view and understand the upcoming total solar eclipse, the Eclipse Chasers Athenaeum is organising a special 'eclipse flight' from Delhi to Delhi on July 22. Described as a dedicated, non-stop flight, the JetLite 737-700 aircraft will fly over Gaya in Bihar for its passengers to watch the rare celestial event. (Reuters)

While prayers, fasting and ritual bathing, particularly in holy rivers are encouraged. Temples in Bhopal are also witnessing a heavy rush of devotees, as most of them believe that offering prayers and rituals can ward off the possible ill effects of the eclipse. (BCCL/Ashish Raje)

Streets are likely to remain blank on the July 22, total Solar Eclipse day to avoid any miss-happenings. Even medical science and physicians recommend people to stay at home and not to be in outdoor places during the time of Solar Eclipse. (BCCL)

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