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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4807871.cms
Naveen Kumar, TNN 22 July 2009, 09:21pm IST
VARANASI: The millennia-old city witnessed one of the rarest celestial phenomenons, the longest total solar eclipse of this century, spanning over three minutes and five seconds on Wednesday morning.
While the denizens including foreign tourists and visitors watched the splendid event with bated breath as the mighty Sun went through a number of transitions before sailing across clouds to appear in all its glory, a number of scientists and research students, gathered around PAC camp in Samneghat area, virtually erupted with joy and hugged each other after watching the magnificent event.
"It is definitely the most fascinating event of my life," said Prof BN Dwivedi, head, department of applied physics, Institute of Technology (IT), Banaras Hindu University, while talking to TOI after watching the rare celestial event. "Luckily, the weather god was also kind enough to provide one of the most fascinating glimpses of the solar eclipse in its totality," he added.
It may be mentioned here that a team of scientists including Prof Dwivedi, Prof RC Kapoor of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, and Prof D P Choudhary of California State University, Northridge, along with M. Tech students of department of applied physics, IT-BHU and a team of scientists and students from Goa (supported by DST) were camping in Samneghat area from Tuesday night for viewing and studying the longest total solar eclipse of this century.
"We could not sleep the entire night and the magnificent sight on Wednesday morning proved its worth, providing the pleasure of watching the totality of the solar eclipse in its majestic glory," said Prof RC Kapoor, who had witnessed a number of exciting expeditions on total solar eclipse in different parts of country in 1980s and 90s. "The Varanasi expedition has surpassed all the previous expeditions and it has also provided a wonderful opportunity to carry scientific research on different aspects of total solar eclipse," he added.
It is also worth mentioning here that the focus of the study of scientists in the city is predominantly based on the outer solar atmosphere that includes its structural changes, temperature density and the reasons for enormously high temperature of corona.
Similarly, Saurabh Kumar, M. Tech student of department of applied physics, IT-BHU, who had come to study the shadow bands during total solar eclipse, along with eight other students, was also ecstatic after the celestial event.
"Our digital cameras have captured the magnificent event and we are going to process it in the laboratory to study the geomagnetic activity during the formation of shadow bands," he said.
The high resolution telescope (alpha telescope) and white light photography with high quality lens also attracted the show as the event left everyone satisfied and filled with joy.
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(if you having troubles, try posting your comment on this page or send an email to chronicle @ itbhuglobal.org)Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
Varanasi 221005, UP