The sky gazers will have special treat this month, as the Annular solar Eclipse is occurring on 26 December, 2019. The day after Christmas, on December 26, people here can catch the vision of a dark Moon encircled by a ring of light. The Moon will pass in front of the Sun, creating an annular solar eclipse visible from Asia and Guam. The annular phase of this solar eclipse is visible from Saudi Arabia, southern India, and parts of Indonesia.
To enhance the curiosity about this astonishing celestial event Raman Science Centre & Planetarium, Nagpur is organising a special observation programme for the citizens of Nagpur and students. on December 26. The eclipse would be observed via projection method using special telescopes, special goggles and simulated software. Only entry ticket to the centre will be applicable for this special programme. Special solar goggles are available at Raman Science Centre for general public.
Solar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned in a straight line, so that the Moon passes between us and the Sun and blocks its light. Each time it orbits the Earth, the Moon comes close to the Sun in the sky as it passes New Moon.
If the Moon orbited the Earth in exactly the same plane that the Earth orbits the Sun, it would pass in front of the Sun at New Moon every month. But in fact the Moon’s orbit is tipped up at an angle of 5° relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This means that the alignment between the Moon and Sun at New Moon usually isn’t exact. Normally, the Moon passes a few degrees to the side of the Sun.
As it circles the Earth, the Moon passes through this Earth–Sun plane twice each month, at the points on the left and right labeled as nodes. A solar eclipse happens only when one of these node crossings happens to coincide with New Moon. This happens roughly once every six months. As the Moon travels along its orbit, its shadow sweeps across the Earth, usually travelling from west to east at a speed which varies between 1,000 and 5,000 mph.
Those in Europe, parts of Asia, and North/West Australia will see a partial eclipse. Nagpur will witness a partial solar eclipse as the city lies few hundred kilometres away on the northern side of the totality path. About 62% of the visible surface of the sun will be obscured by the moon. The eclipse will begin at 08.11 am and will conclude by 11.08 am. The maximum eclipse will occur at 9.31 am.
