Hit NASA site to see celestial spectacle

Want to watch the solar eclipse but are stuck in office? Log on to NASA's website for safe viewing of the eclipse. The space agency has established a web page to view Wednesday's total solar eclipse in real time.

Want to watch the solar eclipse but are stuck in office? Log on to NASA's website for safe viewing of the eclipse. The space agency has established a web page to view Wednesday's total solar eclipse in real time.

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This year's eclipse will be visible in South America, Africa and Asia. NASA has partnered with the University of California, Berkeley, for a streaming webcast.

The eclipse begins at 3.37 pm (IST) and a view of the totality when the sun is completely blocked by the moon's shadow starting at 4:54 pm. Scientists say this eclipse is special as the total phase will last for 3 minutes and 45 seconds. Most total eclipses last only one or two minutes usually.

At the website, you can learn about the sun and careers in solar science. NASA will also start pod casting 3-5 minutes of programmes for teachers and students to download on to their computers and portable music players. So go ahead and log onto

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/sun_earthday2006.html

Arrangements for students
Special arrangements are being made to make students view the celestial spectacle in schools  

Being organised by SPACE, an NGO, ‘Heli Odyssey 2006’ aims to spread scientific temper among students

Students will be able to view the eclipse through solar filters, pin hole projections and telescopes

A total of 40 schools in Delhi and NCR have been selected for conducting the viewing of the solar eclipse